Beyond the Railing

I slipped right through the cracked-open terrace door into the open air! The concrete floor was coarse and warm under my paws. In the corner sat a wide terracotta planter piled with dry autumn leaves. I dashed right over and planted a paw straight into the crisp pile. Crunch! A dry leaf shattered into brittle little flakes with the neatest snapping sound! Eager for more, I popped up on my hind legs and gripped the cool metal railing bars. Green treetops were swaying, and cars hummed along the pavement far below. The world out here is huge!