Climbing the Slats

I secured the woven hair tie across my chest and approached the vertical face of the center console. A rear air conditioning vent sat flush against the textured plastic, its horizontal louvers aligned like the rungs of a ladder. I placed both hands on the lowest slat and applied downward pressure. It held steady. Bracing one foot against the molded housing, I pulled upward, transferring my weight in one measured motion to reach the next tier. Suspended midway, I paused to check my balance, looking down at the clear span of floor mat left behind.