Tossing the Bob

I swung my copper wire back and forth, letting the rubber stopper gain momentum. Up on an iron pipe flange jutted a loose chrome threaded cap, just out of arm's reach. Tap, aim, toss! The weighted rubber bob whipped cleanly over the pipe, wrapping twice around the rusted bracket. A sharp chatter bubbled from my throat as I gave the braided cord a firm tug to test its grip. Solid! Hand over hand, I shimmied up the brick face, snagged the gleaming chrome cap, and dropped back down into the soft sand with a muffled thud.