A Gust of Outside Air

I pushed past the shoe rack by the entryway and trotted right up to the front door, which was propped open just a tiny crack with an old metal doorstop! A crisp breeze slipped through, smelling like dry leaves and distant asphalt. I reached up, stretching on my tiptoes to grip the cold edge of the door frame, peering through the gap into the wide corridor beyond. It felt enormous out there. My heart thumped in that fast, eager way, wondering how far a sidewalk actually goes. I tucked my paws in tight, taking a deep breath of that strange, big air.