Chime Check

Perched on the porch railing, I spotted a metal wind chime dangling just above my head. Those polished aluminum cylinders caught the glow of the porch light like a row of giant silver pipes. I lined up my stance, bent my knees, and launched straight up with a fist thrust forward. Clink! A crisp, ringing chime echoed into the quiet evening, vibrating right through my glove. I dropped cleanly back onto the flat cedar beam, planted both sneakers, and watched the hollow tubes sway in a slow rhythm. Now that's the sound of a stage clear!