Katherine Nicolai

They'd come organized, of course.

They'd come organized, of course.

but I was in the habit of pulling them out by the handful as I used them, and sticking them back in willy-nilly. So I truly had no idea even what family of color I might pull.

but I was in the habit of pulling them out by the handful as I used them, and sticking them back in willy-nilly. So I truly had no idea even what family of color I might pull.

but I was in the habit of pulling them out by the handful as I used them, and sticking them back in willy-nilly. So I truly had no idea even what family of color I might pull.

My finger stopped on one, and I slid it from the pack. I paused to feel where the wax met the paper, how it was peeled back a bit from when I'd sharpened it last. I wondered if it would be a yellow, which I would spot in every daffodil and yield sign, or a shade of blue like the sky today. But when I finally blinked my eyes open,

My finger stopped on one, and I slid it from the pack. I paused to feel where the wax met the paper, how it was peeled back a bit from when I'd sharpened it last. I wondered if it would be a yellow, which I would spot in every daffodil and yield sign, or a shade of blue like the sky today. But when I finally blinked my eyes open,

My finger stopped on one, and I slid it from the pack. I paused to feel where the wax met the paper, how it was peeled back a bit from when I'd sharpened it last. I wondered if it would be a yellow, which I would spot in every daffodil and yield sign, or a shade of blue like the sky today. But when I finally blinked my eyes open,

I saw I'd drawn good old burnt sienna. Huh, I said aloud. Didn't see that coming. This was a color that had helped me draw many tree trunks. and brick house fronts since my first pack of crayons, big enough to include it in grade school. It was a utilitarian stronghold of a color, not one I'd have picked myself for a whimsical stroll in the spring, and that made it perfect for today.

I saw I'd drawn good old burnt sienna. Huh, I said aloud. Didn't see that coming. This was a color that had helped me draw many tree trunks. and brick house fronts since my first pack of crayons, big enough to include it in grade school. It was a utilitarian stronghold of a color, not one I'd have picked myself for a whimsical stroll in the spring, and that made it perfect for today.

I saw I'd drawn good old burnt sienna. Huh, I said aloud. Didn't see that coming. This was a color that had helped me draw many tree trunks. and brick house fronts since my first pack of crayons, big enough to include it in grade school. It was a utilitarian stronghold of a color, not one I'd have picked myself for a whimsical stroll in the spring, and that made it perfect for today.

I tucked the crayon into my pocket, for some reason wanting to bring it along, and went to the door to step into my shoes and take a thin jacket from the hook. Outside, I paused to zip up my jacket and feel the air on my skin.

I tucked the crayon into my pocket, for some reason wanting to bring it along, and went to the door to step into my shoes and take a thin jacket from the hook. Outside, I paused to zip up my jacket and feel the air on my skin.

I tucked the crayon into my pocket, for some reason wanting to bring it along, and went to the door to step into my shoes and take a thin jacket from the hook. Outside, I paused to zip up my jacket and feel the air on my skin.

It was one of those spring days when the sky is full of puffy clouds.

It was one of those spring days when the sky is full of puffy clouds.

It was one of those spring days when the sky is full of puffy clouds.

So minute to minute, we might be dazzled by sunlight or shrouded in shade. And with each shift, you'd likely be pushing back the sleeves of your jacket or tugging them back down. Still, just now, the sun shone on my face and the air smelled of fresh grass and last night's rain. I was just about to start off when I looked down and spotted a penny on the sidewalk. I smiled.

So minute to minute, we might be dazzled by sunlight or shrouded in shade. And with each shift, you'd likely be pushing back the sleeves of your jacket or tugging them back down. Still, just now, the sun shone on my face and the air smelled of fresh grass and last night's rain. I was just about to start off when I looked down and spotted a penny on the sidewalk. I smiled.

So minute to minute, we might be dazzled by sunlight or shrouded in shade. And with each shift, you'd likely be pushing back the sleeves of your jacket or tugging them back down. Still, just now, the sun shone on my face and the air smelled of fresh grass and last night's rain. I was just about to start off when I looked down and spotted a penny on the sidewalk. I smiled.