Sorting Hardware

I pushed past the patio door to check the yard. Beneath the wooden bench lay an abandoned tin lid filled with loose hardware. Complete clutter. Washers mixed in with rusty wood screws and stray hex nuts. Unacceptable. I planted my boots in the dirt and went down the line. Screws laid parallel in size order. Washers stacked by diameter. One stubborn wing nut was wedged beneath a splinter; I gripped it with both hands and gave a sharp, downward wrench until it popped loose. Stashed it squarely beside the bolts. A neat grid now sits under that bench. Useful work done.