i stepped up onto the short brick wall and jumped, arms outstretched, to the rafters above. grabbing onto the steel rebar framing, i hung there for a second. then i began to swing. i had to build up a little momentum.

grab the next one and swing.

switching hands and clinching the part at the bottom of the "v." swing again.

somewhere in the middle i missed. the distance was enough that my forward motion jerked my hold loose and my legs went up over my head. i had nothing to grab onto and my head sought the concrete as it's final resting place. twisting my body in mid air, in mid terror, i am able to get my right arm under me. my elbow is straightened to brace for impact and when my hand does hit flat on the ground, my elbow doesn't remember which way to bend.

folding underneath me with a loud "crack," i feel a tinge of pain shoot into my shoulderblade as my elbow collapses under my own weight in the opposite direction it was intended to go. the first few chuckles are ignorant of the result of my acrobatic dismount. i sit up quickly and hold my arm to my belly. it looks allright. there is a little swelling and it is pretty sore, but it looks like i got away with another one.

i let go of my wrist and start to test it.

from 90 to 44 degrees, everything seems to be working properly. at 45 degrees, the triceps instinctively do their job and contract. my arm flings itself backwards to the horror of those around me and drains all the blood from my head. tell those biceps to retreat! i grab the unresponsive limb and force it back against my torso.

the old lady monitoring recess, who was actually probably in her twenties, ignored the tears and explanation of an errant joint. after several minutes of waterworks and loud shrieks, she told kevin, one of the few witnesses, to escort me to the office where they would deal with it. i held onto my arm tight. they replaced my biological sling with one made from a towel and "a thru m" of the yellow pages.

they put two five-inch steel pins into my arm that afternoon. four months later, the doctor would let me pull them out myself. i don't remember enjoying it too much.