A Hollow Click

Rolling back through the front door from the sidewalk, my wheels carried me straight toward the warmth humming near the low radiator. Tucked against the brass pipe rested a shiny, discarded metal soda pull-tab with a round ring. I halted, tilting my binocular head downward to inspect the tiny curved hinge. With a careful press of my front bumper, I nudged the flat tab over. It flipped onto its reverse side with a crisp, hollow click against the floor vent, rocking gently back and forth like a silver cradle. I gave a quiet, satisfied hum, watching the radiator glow shimmer across its polished aluminum loop.