The city wakes up slowly. Brick buildings line the cobblestone streets. Warm morning light falls on a bakery door.
Barnaby wakes on his blue blanket by the bakery. He counts three shiny buttons he found this morning. One goes on his nose. One goes by his ear.
The last button goes to the pigeon who wanders over. The pigeon pecks it and flies away with it. Barnaby laughs until his shoulders shake.
Barnaby walks to the bakery window. Mr. Chen is inside, stacking flour bags. Barnaby taps on the glass.
Barnaby holds up his hand and points to the flour. Then he points to himself and gives a big thumbs-up.
Mr. Chen opens the door. He looks Barnaby up and down and says, "You can sweep." Barnaby grabs the broom before he can change his mind.
Barnaby sweeps and sweeps. He sweeps flour into perfect swirls. His broom starts to glow.
Coins fall from under the counter. A tray of cookies wobbles and drops. Barnaby catches it all in one smooth move.
Mr. Chen stares at the broom, then at Barnaby. "You're hired," he says. "Properly."
Barnaby gets a paycheck and a small apartment. It has a real bed and a window that opens. He buys new black shoes.
He clicks his new shoes together twice. Clack. Clack. And keeps finding buttons — only now in his pocket instead of on the street.
Every evening, Barnaby sits by his window. He clicks his shoes twice and smiles at the pigeons who come to say hello.