Dolly trotted through the sunny marketplace with a basket on her back.
Between the bread stall and the flower stall, something winked on the cobbles.
Dolly looked left. Dolly looked right. Then Dolly slipped the coin into her wool and walked on with a tiny smile.
At the toy stall, Dolly slowed down. Spinning tops twirled in Dolly's thoughts.
At the sweet stall, Dolly smelled sticky buns and sugar. Clink. The hidden coin tapped with every step.
Then Dolly heard a voice at the fruit stall. "My coin, my coin—where did it go?"
Dolly hurried past. Dolly did not look back.
But a cheeky chicken hopped onto the basket and pecked at a cabbage leaf.
Wobble-wobble-wobble! Dolly grabbed the handle. Clink! The coin sounded loud this time.
Dolly stopped.
Slowly, Dolly turned around and walked back through the busy lane.
Dolly held out the shiny coin. "I found it and kept it," Dolly whispered.
For one long moment, the stall was quiet except for a buzzing bee.
Then the fruit seller smiled and placed a crisp pear into Dolly's basket. "Thank you for telling me."
Dolly bit into the juicy pear while the market chattered all around.
"You're welcome," said Dolly. And this time, that was all Dolly carried home.
