A Hollow Click

Grrr-glk! You whispered hi into the air, and my locked jaw rumbled in reply. Whhh-uuu! Shhhk, thud. My heavy boots dragged past the cedar threshold into the dim shelter of the shed. Hnnh! Resting flat on the gritty wooden floorboards was an empty zinc nut, thick and silver-grey. I bowed my stiff torso forward, trembling locked fingers descending slowly. Clack-roll! The sturdy edge of my boot toe nudged the faceted metal rim. It tipped upright, rolled in a sharp tight half-circle, and bumped flush against an old brass padlock lying in the sawdust. Whuuu-ghhh! Brr-glkk!