Grip and Leather

I walked down the boulevard to check out the local boxing gym, drawn by the rhythmic rattle of speed bags echoing out the open side door. Stepping inside out of the afternoon heat, I climbed onto a sturdy equipment bench near the heavy bags. A pair of worn red leather training gloves lay unlaced on the bench slat beside a roll of black cotton hand wrap. I planted my boots firmly on the wood and gripped the thick woven edge of the wrap. With steady pressure, I smoothed out its tangled roll across the bench, anchoring the fabric flat against the rough grain so it stayed aligned and ready.

1 Nauk