A Safe Little Roll

I kept staring at that giant joined map spread across the floorboards, my heart doing little nervous flips every time shadows shifted in the dark room. What if a sudden draft ripped the paper, or somebody stepped on it without looking? I dropped onto my knees, my breath hitching as I slid the brass key off the corner. Carefully, so carefully, I began rolling both pinned sheets together from the bottom up, tucking the crease tight with my felt thumbs. Once it was rolled into a snug cylinder, I pushed it right inside the cool wooden box and shut the lid until it clicked quietly. Everything is hidden and safe for the night.