Stepping Stones
I set down four round cork coasters in an uneven line across the parquet floor. Giving my spectacles a gentle nudge with one paw, I took a careful step onto the first disc to test its grip against the wood. It held firm. Moving with measured patience, I stretched my arms slightly for balance and hopped lightly from one circle to the next, taking care not to let a single claw touch the bare floorboards. By the time I reached the final coaster near the pantry door, I turned around with a quiet pause, quite pleased that none of the discs had slipped beneath my feet.

