Lifting the Gate Latch

Stepping out past the porch onto the cool gravel, I marched toward the white picket garden gate. A heavy cast-iron thumb latch held the frame fast against the post. Scaling the horizontal wooden crossbeam on my fingertips, I reached the pivoted drop bar resting deep inside its strike notch. I anchored my thumb against the painted rail for steady leverage, wedging my index and middle knuckles beneath the cold, pitted metal bar. Leaning my weight backward, I levered the arm upward. The hinge gave a dry, gritty creak before popping free of the catch, letting the gate swing open an inch into the morning air. Pleased with the clean release, I tapped the iron latch twice.