The First Welcome Mat — Between the bump-bump of boxes and the papery smell of tape, Sela dragged the little red wagon toward the new house. Read the full story →
Between the bump-bump of boxes and the papery smell of tape, Sela dragged the little red wagon toward the new house. She wanted to carry one box all by herself, but every box was too wide for her arms. Even her brother’s toy bear rode like a king beside a tiny carton. “Shh,” Sela told the squeaky wheels, because she had a secret job nobody had given her.
At the step, the wagon stuck. Under its handle, where nobody ever looked, Sela found a flat woven square tied with string. A note said, For muddy feet, tired feet, and first feet. Sela slid it in front of the door before anyone saw. Mom wiped her shoes. Dad smiled without knowing why. Ever since, houses keep a welcome mat waiting, and if you peek by the front step, you can almost spot Sela’s quiet surprise.
