Pip points excitedly at a tiny wooden cart under the market clock. Father bends to inspect its crooked flag as a large orange arrow curves across the floor.

A PICTURE BOOK

Pip and the Painted Arrow

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Pip and the Painted Arrow

Pip crouches beside a bright orange arrow on the market floor while Father bends beside him. Button jars, a ribbon stall, and a large clock surround them.

Every Saturday, Pip went to the big indoor market with Father. Pip carried the little paper list. Today it said: carrots, bread, and a blue button for Father’s coat. He had lost one near the library.

At the button stall, Pip spotted a bright orange arrow on the floor. It pointed past the button jars and under the ribbon table.

“Why is that there?” asked Pip.

The stall keeper looked down. “I don’t know. It wasn’t there this morning.”

Pip followed the arrow, with Father beside him. Another orange arrow led around the bread stall. A third pointed to the big market clock.

Under the clock stood a tiny wooden cart with four wheels, a crooked flag, and a little sign: PLEASE PUSH ME HOME.

“The arrows belong to this cart!” said Pip.

Father bent to inspect the flag. Its tip was streaked with orange paint. “I think you’re right.”

Pip pushes the little cart toward an open doorway while Father walks behind him. An orange arrow leads them toward a courtyard with puddles and a small shed.

Pip gave the cart a gentle push. One wheel squeaked as it rolled past the flowers. Another orange arrow showed the way.

They went past the apples, around tall stacks of baskets, and through the wide doorway at the back of the market.

Outside was a little courtyard, still dotted with puddles from last night’s rain. At the far end stood a small potting shed with its door open.

Pip pushes the cart into a potting shed. An elderly gardener with muddy hands smiles and lifts both hands in surprise.

Inside, an old gardener was patting her pockets. “My seed cart!” she cried. “It rolled away while I was watering the herbs!”

Pip pushed the cart into the shed. The gardener clapped her muddy hands. “Thank you! I painted those arrows in case it wandered off. I didn’t think anyone would find them.”

The gardener shows Father a blue button while Pip holds a small potted basil plant. The wooden seed cart with its crooked flag stands nearby.

Something was tied to the cart’s crooked flag with string: a round blue button.

“Is that your coat button?” Pip asked.

Father laughed. “It is exactly my coat button!”

The gardener untied it and gave it to Father. Then she gave Pip a tiny basil plant in a paper cup.

Pip walks through the quiet market carrying a paper list and a small basil plant. The smooth floor is clear of orange arrows.

Back in the market, Pip carried the paper list in one hand and the basil plant in the other. He looked across the smooth floor. The orange arrows were gone.

But Pip knew the market a little better now.