Scraping Up a Trophy

Three steep concrete steps blocked my way down to the paved walkway, but I wasn't about to stay parked on the porch. Spotting a thick green garden hose coiled against the iron railing, I grabbed the ridged rubber and shimmed down coil by coil like a spiral slide. My feet landed with a solid tap on the bottom step right beside an old cast-iron boot scraper. Wedged tight beneath its wire bristles was a bright neon-yellow rubber sneaker charm! I dug my fingers in and gave one fierce tug until it popped right out. It fits perfectly in my hand, and the path ahead is wide open.