Down the Magazine Ramp

A thick magazine was leaning off the edge of the low table, forming a slick, angled ramp straight down toward the carpet. I didn't hesitate for a second. I revved my sneakers against the tabletop, dug in, and hit the glossy slope full throttle! The slide was so fast my quills caught the rush of air, and when my boots hit the dense carpet fibers, I skidded a neat half-circle before braking right against a dropped wooden pencil. That pencil rolled a couple of inches from the tap. Smooth descent, zero wipeouts!