Kit and the Tiny Lines

Kit held the green crayon on its side and rubbed it across his paper. Underneath was a bumpy leaf shape. First a stem appeared. Then came a long line up the middle.

“There's a leaf hiding in here,” he told Dad.

Dad leaned closer. “Let's see what else comes out.”

At the museum rubbing table, there were leaves with round edges and leaves with pointy edges. Kit had chosen one with five points. Beside him, a museum worker was handing out paper.

“One sheet for your leaf,” she had said, “and you can choose any crayon.”

Kit had picked green, then added a yellow crayon beside his elbow.

Dad lifted the borrowed clipboard from the edge of the table.

“I’m just putting this back on the rack,” he said.