Incline Test

The vintage brass shoehorn stood propped against the heel of a heavy rubber boot at a steep thirty-degree angle. Its concave scoop was polished mirror-smooth. I stepped onto the upper curve from the low bench riser, centered my boots in the metal groove, and let gravity take over. The slide was instantaneous and frictionless. I hit the bottom curve at speed and shot forward, landing in a solid two-point crouch right onto the cold slate paver. Zero wobble on touchdown. That was remarkably fast. I stood up, dusted off my knees, and turned back to inspect the angle for another run.