Through the Slats

I trotted along the backyard fence line until I found a tiny gap beneath the wooden garden gate! Dropping low onto my belly, I wiggled my snout right into the opening, sniffing the wild scents of clover and morning sidewalk drifting in from outside. Just on the outer edge lay a fallen pinecone half-tucked under the wood. I stretched my front paws as far as they could reach, nudged the scratchy scales closer, and gave its prickly tip a curious, enthusiastic lick! There is a whole big world right beyond this latch.