Taking the Stoop

I slipped out through the cracked screen door at the front entrance and made my way down to the sun-warmed concrete stoop. The street was wide open, carrying the low hum of distant traffic. Right near the edge of the second step sat an empty metal soda can, lying on its side. I walked over, planted my boot against the ribbed bottom rim, and gave it a sharp, deliberate kick. It rolled along the gritty stone, clattering with a hollow, metallic cadence that echoed off the brick riser. The acoustics out here hit entirely different from indoor baseboards. I stood tall, letting the outdoor breeze catch my balance, owning the block one sound at a time.#Vanillaice