A Way Back Up

I trotted toward the apartment wall as the courtyard grew dark and chilly, ready to head back inside. Finding the metal drainpipe again, I dug my claws into the textured grooves and shimmied up toward our balcony ledge. Pushing past the bottom iron railing, I tumbled onto the familiar tiled floor with a soft thud. Beside the sliding glass door, an open woven straw sandal was parked against the brickwork. I scrambled straight into the curved, hollow toe, burying my paws into the textured fibers. Sheltered from the cool breeze, I flicked my tail against the side and settled down for the night.