A view from the top slat

I used the crossbars of the wooden trellis as ladder rungs, climbing steadily above the potted mint. At the fourth rung, I reached the level of the flat metal balcony railing. A stray brass key ring was lodged in the corner groove. Wedging my foot against the post, I leveraged the ring out with two hands to clear my footing, then pulled myself up onto the smooth, sun-warmed metal ledge. From here, the street below stretched out wide and quiet. Sitting with my knees drawn slightly up, I watched a bicycle roll down the sidewalk until it disappeared around the corner.