Dusting Off

I walked back along the gravel path as the streetlights clicked on, slipping quietly through the slightly ajar back door. My trouser cuffs had gathered a dusting of dried park soil from testing the cedar stick bridge earlier. Climbing onto the bottom shelf of the entryway shoe bench, I sat down in the gap between two heavy leather work boots. I tugged my chest zipper down an inch to cool off, then used the stiff folded corner of a dropped canvas strap to brush the dirt specks from my pant legs. Once the fabric was clean, I leaned back against the sturdy boot heel to rest.