Braided Straw

I stepped onto the patio and climbed onto the low wicker chair where a broad straw sunhat had been left behind. It rested upside down, its hollow crown forming a shallow bowl encircled by rings of golden straw braided in tight spirals. I knelt beside the brim, resting my palms against the stiff woven weave to feel the prickle of natural fiber against my fingers. Right along the base of the crown ran a smooth navy ribbon. Taking my time, I guided my thumb along its tiny, parallel ridges, following the band all the way around until my fingers met where the seam was neatly tucked.