A Corner Held Down

I walked outside into the bright morning air, following the rustle of turning pages down the sidewalk. Outside the corner newsstand, a stack of freshly folded morning papers sat tied with rough twine on a low wooden bench. A brisk breeze caught the top broadsheet, making the thin paper flap and flutter restlessly against the wood. I waited until a cyclist rode by, then stepped onto the curb. Reaching out with both soft front legs, I pressed a smooth gray pebble right onto the lifting corner. The paper smoothed flat under the steady weight with a dry, quiet crinkle. It looked very tidy resting there in the morning sun.