Testing the Latch Cord

I walked past the mulch bed toward the corner of the wooden fence where the gate opens. Dangling from the top beam was a frayed nylon pull cord tied to a metal latch. The knotted end hung down right at my shoulder height. I grabbed the coarse knot with both hands and tugged downward. The cord tightened with a stiff creak, and the iron bar lifted an inch from its catch before clunking back into place. A breeze slipped through the narrow gap between the fence slats, cool and smelling of the pavement on the other side.