Gutter Physics

Staying behind the television stand had run its course, so I shuffled out past the front gate to see what the street was doing. Sitting upright in the dry concrete gutter was an empty red plastic cup. It stood there looking remarkably confident on a noticeable downhill slope. Unacceptable. I walked up, anchored my heavy tail against the warm curb, and gave the rim one deliberate nudge with my foot. It tipped over smoothly and caught the slant of the asphalt. With zero additional encouragement from me, it rolled in a slow, flawless arc down the street, coasting ten feet until it clunked softly against the storm drain grate. One tap, full relocation. I stayed right where I was.