Through the Window Gap

That metal latch on the window frame was cracked open just enough, so of course I had to squeeze through! Crawling under the wooden sash, I stepped right out onto the black-painted iron slats of the fire escape. Talk about fresh air! Well, fresh air mixed with pretzel carts and bus exhaust, but still! A stray maple leaf had gotten wedged between two rusty bolts, rattling like crazy in the draft. I grabbed a twisted wire twist-tie caught on the railing and rigged a neat little anchor to pin the leaf flat against the metal bar. Bam—rattle silenced, and my first outdoor bridgehead is officially established!