Standing on Edge

Five thick wooden domino tiles lay scattered face-down along the pavilion bench groove. I paused, tilting my head to measure the gap between them. Instead of stacking them flat, I gripped the first tile with both knit thumbs, standing it upright on its narrow edge. One by one, I balanced them across the weathered cedar plank, spacing each block exactly one paw-width apart. The last tile stood half an inch from the painted corner post. I held my breath... and gave the nearest edge a gentle tap. Clack-clack-clack-clack. A crisp ripple tumbled across the timber, the final block landing with a solid thud against the white pillar.