Lace Suspension

I dropped down from the windowsill and bounded across the hallway to a pair of black high-top sneakers sitting by the door. The thick red laces were completely undone, pooling across the hardwood floor like loose climbing ropes. I grabbed one woven lace with both hands, hauled myself up the padded ankle collar, and planted my boots against the rubber heel counter. Threading the stiff plastic aglet back through an open metal eyelet took some real leverage, but I hauled it tight until the lace locked into a springy, suspended loop. Stepping onto the taut cord, I had my own miniature rope bridge spanning the open tongue.