The Lobby Mail Slot

I slipped beneath the door gap and navigated down the concrete steps into the lobby. Mounted low on the wall was a grid of brushed aluminum mailboxes. Climbing onto a cardboard parcel left on the floor gave me solid footing before the lowest row. A spring-loaded mail slot flap hung directly ahead. Bracing my feet against the box ledge, I wedged my shoulder against the bottom edge and pushed upward. The internal tension spring resisted firmly before yielding, swinging the flap wide to reveal the dark interior slot. When I eased back, it snapped shut with a crisp, hollow clatter. A dependable partition mechanism.