Ravioli Rides the Red Wagon

Ravioli climbed into the red wagon while seedlings were being carried to the community garden. He sat between pots of mint and marigold as if his ticket had been booked weeks ago.

The wagon rolled slowly past bicycles, chalk drawings, and a hedge full of sparrows. At every bump, Ravioli widened his stance and looked more like a captain crossing a difficult sea.

In the garden he supervised the planting from an empty pot. The ride home was quieter: Ravioli slept beneath the wagon handle, dreaming of the enormous expedition that was only three blocks long.