A Solid Rock

The clothespin had tested my grip, but my arms wanted real bulk to lift. As the sky dimmed into evening, I prowled the balcony corner and spotted a rough gray landscaping pebble wedged near the drainage grate. It was about the size of my torso, craggy and dense. I squatted low, slid both hands under its gritty base, and dug my boots hard into the concrete. I took a deep breath and hauled upward with my back and legs. The stone broke free from the dust with a dry scrape, rising chest-high into the cool evening air. I held it steady until my muscles burned, then set it down solid.