Taking the High Road

Slipping through the slightly open sliding door was simple enough, but the breezy balcony offered far more entertainment than just fresh air. I grabbed the lower rail of a folding metal drying rack, using a clamped wooden clothespin as a foothold to hoist myself up to the highest rung. Perched on the narrow bar, the neighborhood below unfolded like a miniature playground. A sudden gust tried to rock the metal frame, but I simply leaned back against a draped linen towel, perfectly steady. Staying cooped up indoors was getting stale; seeing the open street convinced me that heading outside for real is next on the agenda.