Stone Against Claws

Stepped right past the porch mat and took the flagstones head-on! Cold slate underfoot, speckled with gritty gray sand. Halfway down the path sat a heavy, porous red garden paver tipped against the dirt. I squared my shoulders and planted both clawed hands against its jagged crust. HEAVE! Gritty brick scraped against soil with a dense, hollow crunch. A tiny damp pebble popped out from underneath. I grabbed that round pebble, squeezed down hard until my knuckles went taut, and gave the big brick a sharp rap—CLINK! Pure solid rock. Outdoor ground does not budge for weak legs!