A Silver Ring on the Paving

I pushed through the gap beneath the garden gate onto the wide concrete sidewalk. The open street felt huge and still under the midday sun. Right beside a pale expansion seam in the stone, a discarded metal bottle cap lay upside down like a tiny shallow basin. I paused, watching the bright midday glare glint off its fluted crimped edges. Slowly, I reached down with my knitted trunk and nudged the scalloped rim. It rocked with a sharp, tinny clink, flipping over to reveal a faded red crown printed on top. The rough pavement was warm beneath my feet, and I stood quietly beside my new find.