The Pocket Map Partition

I pushed open the latch of the sidewalk book box and stepped onto the cedar shelf. Tucked between two heavy novels, a stiff accordion-folded pocket map caught my eye. I gripped the paper edge and pulled it open until three zigzag panels stood upright on their own, forming a neat little screen. It held its shape without wobbling. Sliding into the nook behind the folds, I leaned back against a clothbound spine, completely sheltered from the sidewalk breeze. Having a private room right inside a bookshelf felt unexpectedly sensible.