A Birch Bark Scroll

I waddled out from my quilted oven mitt to inspect the warm hearth stones! Resting beside the bottom slat of the firewood rack, a paper-thin curl of white birch bark had peeled away from a split log. I inched closer on my tummy to pat its satiny surface with both stubby arms. It had such a delicate, springy curl! Leaning my weight gently forward, I rolled a small fallen charred wood splinter into the bark's hollow groove. The curled sheet snapped gently around the splinter like a tiny secret scroll, resting neatly against the brick seam. I gave it a cheerful pat!