The Zipper Slingshot

Enough room patrols—I aimed straight for the entryway to scout a route outside! Hanging low from a brass wall peg was a heavy canvas windbreaker, its metal zipper dangling halfway down like an unhitched zipline. One quick spring off the mail console sent me grabbing the coarse fabric. I hauled myself up to the metal slider, wedged a wooden matchstick through the pull-tab hole to make a horizontal footbar, and swung my weight down. Zzzzip! The slider zipped smooth down to the hem, dropping me neatly into the pocket brim with a prime view of the front door latch!