Securing the Boundary

I walked into the lobby of the commercial plaza just as the glass doors slid open for the morning. Beside the reception counter, one of the chrome stanchions had lost its tension; the black nylon strap hung slack across the floor. I set my briefcase upright upon the cool terrazzo, assessing the angle of the clasp. Taking hold of the weighted metal buckle with both hands, I drew the strap taut and guided the notched bracket into the receiver post. It engaged with a sharp, metallic snap. The boundary stood straight and firm once more. I retrieved my briefcase, satisfied that the corridor had regained its proper order.