The Basket That Kept Secrets — Under the first warm wink of sun, Rory tucked twigs under his arm and slipped from his cozy leaf tunnel between the strawberry rows. Read the full story →
Under the first warm wink of sun, Rory tucked twigs under his arm and slipped from his cozy leaf tunnel between the strawberry rows. He wanted one strong handle for the little basket he had woven himself, not the floppy vine that kept sagging into the dust. The field smelled like warm leaves and sweet berries. Halfway down the dirt path, snap! His best twig broke, and a thorn nicked his thumb.
“Psst. Trade you a secret for that crooked twig,” whispered the old scarecrow by the far tree, though its stitched mouth did not move. Rory leaned close. The secret was this: bend willow while it is damp, weave it twice, and tuck the end under, not over. Rory gave up his twig, soaked a willow strand in the cool ditch, and worked until his fingers ached. When he came back, the basket did not sag; it stood proud and round, full of berries he had picked with his own dusty hands. If you follow the path to the basket, you can almost tell which handle holds the scarecrow’s secret under the first warm wink of sun.
