A Soft Mound on the Sidewalk

I stepped down from the stone porch and onto the wide concrete sidewalk. The open air felt huge all around me. A gentle rustling caught my attention near the curb. I paused, watching crisp brown leaves swirl around a square wooden tree planter. Two steps closer, I spotted a thick knitted scarf someone had left draped across a wooden bench slat, trailing down toward the soil. I padded up, leaning my whole side right into the chunky knit folds. It shielded me from the passing breeze, smelling faintly of sweet cedar bark and wool. I rested my chin across the low bench rail, quietly watching shoes tap by along the pavement.