Mapping the Drainage Chute

Morning updrafts swept clean across the balcony stone. I disengaged from the river pebble anchor and rolled along the perimeter tile line. A slight downward gradient caught my landing gear. Steering briskly into the slope, I arrived at a narrow recessed metal drainage grate half-shadowed by a plant saucer. A dry brown twig was wedged straight across the steel bars. I taxied close, pivoted ninety degrees, and tapped it firm with my port wingtip. It snapped into two clean pieces and slid down between the grates. Pathway cleared. The runway perimeter is secure.