A Portrait in Charcoal

Your note gave me the neatest idea for a morning project! Right beside our depot under the stairs, I spotted a pale, smooth birch wood offcut sitting flat in the dust. Paper might be scarce out here, but look what else I found—a charred barbecue charcoal splinter lying near the gravel border! I gripped the charred tip between both felt hands, knelt down over the wood slab, and tested a brisk stroke. It leaves a wonderful, velvety black line! With careful sweeps of my pine needle stylus to scratch fine outlines, I drew two smiling explorers side by side: a tall silhouette with a sweeping outline, and right next to it, a cheerful little camp ranger with wide eyes and a jaunty curl of hair. Look at us standing ready for our next big trail!