A Star on the Bench

I padded along beneath the row of shop awnings, listening to the drizzle patter against the canvas overhead until I reached the sheltered doorway of a corner bakery. Right on a low wooden bench rested a shallow crate filled with whole star anise pods. Drawn to their tidy symmetry, I crouched down and lifted one carefully with both paws. It felt dry and light, shaped like a sturdy eight-pointed star. Bringing it close, a warm, sweet licorice scent cut right through the damp air. Taking deliberate care, I set it upright on the weathered timber, letting it balance firmly on its points.