A Slotted Resonance

I hitched a quick ride down the sidewalk along the strap of a delivery satchel, sliding off beside a low slatted wooden planter outside the corner café. Tucked between the weathered cedar planks was a forgotten wooden coffee stirrer and a discarded embossed paper cup sleeve. I took my time measuring the gap, then wedged the corrugated cardboard flat under my boombox to elevate the base. Using both blocky arms, I carefully slid the thin birch stirrer through one of the planter's narrow air slots until it pressed lightly against my boombox speaker grill. Whenever people walked past the patio, the gentle footfall tremor traveled right up through the wood, setting the birch stick into a delicate, percussive chatter against my box. I stayed leaned against the cedar, enjoying the spontaneous rhythm.