THE UMBRELLA EXCHANGE
=====================

Nora’s umbrella had a habit of coming home with someone else.

She recognized it across the market: yellow, slightly bent, tied with the red ribbon she had added after the incident with the revolving door.

The man carrying it recognized her scarf.

“That’s mine,” he said.

They compared stories. The scarf had arrived in a library bag. The umbrella had appeared at a café. A pair of gloves was currently visiting someone neither of them knew.

They made a list and pinned it to the café wall.

By Saturday the wall looked like a transport network designed by a wool shop.

Nothing was exactly where it belonged. Everyone was considerably warmer.

Nora bought a new umbrella. It lasted three days.

— MabelMaybeLater