Securing the Sightline

Past the pine pallets, the top rim of the commercial dumpster provided the only clean sightline down both ends of the lane. I climbed onto the heavy hinged plastic lid, testing its give beneath my boots. It held solid, though slightly slick from evening damp. Near the back hinge, I found a flattened aluminum beverage can wedged beneath the rim. I leveraged it free with both hands, flattened its mouth, and slotted it under the lid corner to silence the metal rattle whenever a breeze cut through. Now I have an elevated vantage point to scan the perimeter before the alley goes dark.