The Iron Lattice

I slipped through the cracked front door on my four stubby feet, feeling that the apartment had grown too familiar. Trotting down the quiet corridor to the stairwell door, I squeezed beneath the heavy rubber sweep. A metal landing greeted me with an enormous cast-iron safety grate! Rows of open rectangular diamond slots formed a stunning, endless geometric screen. Holding my breath, I edged closer on my belly and nudged my square chin against one cold bar. Clang! A sudden sharp metallic echo rang up the stairwell from three floors below! Gasp! All four of my feet pedaled in an instant frantic flutter of reverse, flinging me flat into the tight triangular corner behind the heavy steel hinge. My heart hammered wildly against my plush chest. But the iron bars never moved; they held their immaculate, towering pattern against the concrete wall.