A Blue Streak

I shuffled past the cracked screen door and paused on the cool slate of the front porch. Right near the lowest step lay a chunky cylinder of sky-blue sidewalk chalk. I leaned down and gave the blunt end a curious nudge with my snout. It didn't roll away like the thread spool; instead, it dragged with a dry scrape, leaving a thick, powdery smear across the dark stone! Delighted by the bright mark, I braced my front paws against the chalk and shoved it sideways. Another dusty blue trail curved along the slate, marking a path I made all by myself.