The Rattling Trap

A round wooden tambourine was wedged between two leaning backstage crates, jingling with every gust! I leaped right toward it, but my boot struck a forgotten metal spring on the floor. Boing! Up into the air I flew, catching the tambourine rim mid-flight with both hands. We tumbled together straight into a pile of dry velvet curtains! Clatter-jingle-crash! Instead of scrambling up, I thrust the metal jingles overhead like a shining cymbal crown, locking my legs straight in the air while the silver discs shivered and buzzed down at me.