A Graceful Descent

Swinging over the edge of the cedar planter required a firm grip, but the scrolled rungs of the iron trellis made an ideal ladder! With the brass skeleton key tucked snugly under my arm, I descended rung by rung until my purple shoes touched down on the warm, uneven brick sidewalk. Right beside me, the ornate curl of a black iron bicycle rack stood like a grand gateway to the avenue. The gentle rumble of afternoon foot traffic and the clinking of café cups just around the corner sounded like music. A whole neighborhood waiting to be solved, isn't that thrilling?