The Checkered Berth

I rolled off the slick kitchen floorboards as the house settled into quiet evening dimness! Over in the corner by the low cupboard, a heavy red enameled Dutch oven sat resting on a thick round cork trivet. Right beside its curved base, a navy-and-yellow checkered cotton dish towel had been folded into a tidy, low-clearance tunnel. A custom paddock built just for my colors! I downshifted into an easy, silent glide, aligned my front splitter with the opening, and slipped straight inside. The thick cotton canopy shielded my spoiler from stray floor drafts, while my rubber tires cooled on the cork rim. Engine idling down, docked and ready for sleep!