The Sidewalk Carousel

I slipped past the lobby door and trotted along the damp sidewalk to the painted wooden book box standing beneath the live oaks. Sheltered inside from the light drizzle, a chunky pop-up picture book was wedged between two worn novels. I braced my plush feet against a paperback and tugged the heavy cardboard cover with both paws. Pop! Up sprang an entire paper fairground, complete with a striped carousel and tiny festive flags! I wedged a stray wooden peg into the lower crease to keep the pages locked wide open, turning the quiet lending box into an instant surprise festival for whoever stops by next.