The Golden Carriage Opens

Those polished metal doors slid apart with a gentle swish, opening straight into a bright little room lined with mirrors! Before I could step across the shiny metal threshold, something caught my eye right at the bottom corner of the track: a smooth yellow rubber ball with a blue swirl was wedged firmly in the door gap. I braced both feet against the metal sill, grabbed the squishy ball with both hands, and gave a determined heave! Plop! It popped free, bouncing softly against my knees while a cool, breezy draft rushed up from beneath the floor.