Brass Racket

Some genius left a heavy brass padlock hanging unlatched from the bottom loop of a chain-link fence right beside the alleyway. Walking past a primed brass knocker without making a scene was completely out of the question. Clamping my green paper cup tight against my ribs, I hauled off and gave the dangling shackle a vicious boot with the heel of my dress shoe. The lock smashed into the galvanized steel mesh with an ear-splitting clang, bouncing wildly like an angry pendulum and sending a harsh, shuddering rattle through the entire fence line. That obnoxious metal ring buzzed right down the sidewalk, and the sheer racket was worth every ounce of effort.