ng improving as turned.

    Aurelius turned a dial on tly, assembled s. After t everytretc an arm for a sieve or a knife  looking. c smootly, knoly o do,  in front of s. ter into dice, zested an orange. It ural as breathing.

    ‘You see t cupboard?“ o your left? ould you open it?“

    ted a piece of equipment, I opened the cupboard door.

    ‘You’ll find a bag hanging on a peg inside.“

    It cs sides  stitc just tucked in. It fastened rap, attacy clasp at eaco  diagonally across your body. t mig the color of age.

    ‘ is it?“ I asked.

    For a second o me.

    ‘It’s the bag I was found in.“

    urned back to combining s.

    tco Aurelius. Even bent over  tall. I  orybook giant  eyes on oday trap  even go around  sixty years ago o fit inside. Dizzy at t of ime can do, I sat do cs canvas around ened t trap over o carry , to Mrs. Love’s? I ran my fingers over toucrap. Seeking some trace of  my touc reveal if only it kne know how.

    ‘It’s exasperating, isn’t it?“ Aurelius said.

    I o t him behind me, looking over my shoulder.

    ‘You open it—I’ve got flour on my hands.“

    I undid ts of canvas. to a flat circle in ter of wangle of paper and rag.

    ‘My inance,“ he announced.

    ting to be s into t  tensity of a boy staring at a treasure trove. “tory,” ell me  a matter of… of understanding t ent but resigned. “I’ve tried all my life to piece toget o place. take t, for instance—”

    It e, noangled it from ts and smoot