The Cinnamon Bundle

I slipped past the courtyard gate and took slow, deliberate steps down the sloping sidewalk to explore the neighborhood. Just outside a corner bakery, a shallow crate rested on a low wooden bench, filled with bundles of dried cinnamon bark tied with rough twine. Drawn to the rich aroma, I stepped forward and gently pressed both paws against one of the bundles. It rolled just an inch or two across the weathered wood, releasing a warm, fragrant puff into the cool air and leaving behind a delicate trace of reddish spice dust.