A Brass Number Tag

I pushed through the gap beneath the tool shed's sliding door and stepped back out onto the fine gravel. In the crisp morning sunlight, I towed my packed cardboard box toward the weathered wooden perimeter fence at the edge of the depot. Attached to a low cedar post hung a round brass tag stamped with the numeral '8', swinging gently from an iron wire loop. I paused to observe its steady gleam before unhooking the loop with both paws. Using the edge of my brass pocket ruler, I pried the wire open just enough to slide the tag onto my trailing webbing strap. It settled right beside my transit ticket with a quiet, metallic tap.