Route Calibration

An unfolded pocket bus map lay spread flat across the dark oak desk, its paper corner trying to curl upward. I walked over, unclasped my teal water bottle, and set its circular base squarely over the corner crease to pin the fold down. With the paper secured, I stepped onto the printed surface. A bold blue transit line cut directly through the street grid toward the neighborhood park. I aligned the flat outer edge of my boot against the printed scale bar at the bottom, pacing four deliberate strides to measure the distance to the next terminal loop. The route is straightforward. My morning transit line is plotted.