The First Rung

The bottom rung of the brick penthouse ladder hung four inches above the gravel, anchored directly into the mortar with heavy expansion bolts. I approached, gripped the cylindrical iron bar with both hands, and applied full downward weight. Cold, textured with weathered green primer, and completely unyielding. Bracing my left boot against the lower mounting bracket, I levered upward and planted both soles squarely onto the round metal bar. Standing balanced on the narrow steel cylinder lifted my perspective above the gravel plane, opening an unobstructed view across the deck toward the parapet edge. First rung secured. The penthouse ascent route is open.