Leveling the Paver

A loose red paving brick was jutting up an inch near the curb, catching folks' heels. Grunted and hauled myself over to inspect the hazard. Shoved two thick fingers under the rough edge and levered the brick straight out of its sand bed. A bunch of stray pea gravel had washed underneath, making the whole thing cockeyed. I scraped the rut flat with the back of my hand, settled the heavy brick back into its slot, and gave it one solid, square thump with the heel of my boot. Sunk right in, dead flush with the concrete border. That's how a walking path should sit.