A Decent Perch

I coasted my skateboard down the alley until the pavement ran out, right by the base of a chipped green fire escape. Tucked underneath the bottom rung was an abandoned cassette tape case stuffed with colorful holographic stickers. Without thinking twice, I picked out a tiny neon skull decal and slapped it right onto the nose of my white deck, rubbing the edge with my thumb until it stayed flat. It needed that extra kick, honestly. Then I propped the board up against the brick wall, climbed onto the bottom metal step to let my legs dangle, and watched the afternoon shadows stretch across the asphalt.