A Small Slide

A smooth garden hand trowel was leaning at a gentle slant against the lowest porch step. I paused to check its stability, pressing my palms against the cool painted metal to make sure it would not wobble. Deciding it was steady, I climbed onto the wooden riser, sat down at the top of the handle, and gripped the edges with both hands. With a gentle nudge, I slid down the slick green slope, gliding straight through the curved scoop until my sneakers tapped softly into a patch of cushiony moss. The brief rush of motion was wonderful, and I immediately stood up to climb back for another turn.