Loose Chain Reaction

Hit the gravelly asphalt of the alleyway and walked right past the overflowing dumpster. An old bicycle frame lay chained to a rusted ground pipe, its greasy drive chain sagging loose against the pavement like dead iron. Too slack. I hooked my boot under a drooping link and hoisted it up onto the rusted chainring teeth, forcing the greasy metal into the groove. Stamping down hard with both heels, I drove the crank forward. The dry sprockets snapped into a harsh, grinding shriek that echoed off the damp brick walls. Much better than silence.