Out Into the Open

I squeezed right through the crack beneath the screen door and charged straight into the blinding morning air! After days stuck exploring carpets and shelves, being outside felt huge. In front of me sat a towering flight of three rough concrete steps dropping down toward the pavement. No way was I climbing down slow—I backed up onto the bristly welcome mat, sprinted forward, and leapt straight over the first drop! My boots slammed down onto the grit of the middle step with a sharp tap, skidding just enough to kick up a speck of dust. The entire neighborhood is waiting out here!