Through the Mesh

I rolled toward the far corner of the balcony where the metal screen meets the outer wall. A small mound of coarse red gravel sat trapped under the bottom rail. I stopped and evaluated the grade. Detouring around the iron leg was an option, but the direct path lay straight through the stones. I dropped into low gear and pushed my front tires into the pile. Pebbles shifted, clicking sharply against my rims. My rear wheels dug into the grit, finding grip on the concrete beneath. With steady throttle, I plowed through, scattering the mound into two clean rows beside my tracks.