The rain had finally stopped, leaving the sidewalks shiny and warm under the afternoon sun. Oliver tossed his keys into the cupholder and started the car.
“We should go now,” he said. “Before you change your mind.”
Janet slid into the passenger seat, holding a large hardcover book like it might break. The front read: Ink & Light: Modern Illustration by M. Salinas. On the title page was a perfect black signature—and a note: For Anthony—thanks for believing in my work.
Oliver glanced at the book. “It’s not your fault. You found it in the free book bin.”
“Yeah, but now I know it wasn’t supposed to be there,” Janet said quietly. “Mr. Crawford probably didn’t mean to give it away.”
Mr. Crawford ran the local bookstore—quirky, crowded, and full of mismatched chairs and handwritten signs. He was known for being opinionated and blunt, but also deeply protective of his books.
When they got to the store, Janet didn’t move at first.
“I can go in,” Oliver offered.
She shook her head. “No. I need to.”
They walked through the front door, where the familiar bell gave a sharp jingle. The store was quieter than usual, just the hum of an old fan and the scent of books and coffee.
Mr. Crawford was behind the counter, sorting bookmarks into a tin. He looked up, eyebrows rising above his glasses.
“Well. Didn’t expect to see you two again so soon.”
Janet stepped forward and placed the book on the counter.
“I took this yesterday,” she said. “It was in the free book bin out front. I thought it was a giveaway, but then I saw the inscription and realized it wasn’t meant to be there.”
Crawford picked up the book and opened it, running a finger over the signature.
“Well, I’ll be,” he said. “This one wasn’t supposed to be out there. Must’ve gotten mixed in while I was restocking. Good catch.”
Janet bit her lip. “I’m really sorry.”
Crawford looked at her over his glasses. “You didn’t steal it. You brought it back. That’s more than a lot of people would’ve done.”
Oliver stepped up beside her. “We weren’t sure how you’d react.”
Crawford gave a short laugh. “I’m not a monster, you know. I love my books, but I love honesty more. Besides, you probably saved me from a week of panicking.”
He looked at Janet. “You a fan of illustration?”
She nodded. “I like sketching. Mostly plants and animals.”
Crawford reached under the counter and pulled out a thinner, unsigned copy of the same book. “This one’s a little worn, but it’s yours if you want it. Fair trade for returning the signed copy.”
Janet blinked. “Really?”
“Really,” he said. “Just keep it out of the free bin.”
They left the store to the sound of the bell and stepped into bright sunshine. The air smelled like wet leaves and dust from the sidewalk.
Janet ran a hand over the cover of her new book. “That went way better than I expected.”
“Told you,” Oliver said. “Not everyone’s out to get you.”
“I didn’t think he was out to get me,” she said. “I just didn’t want to be the person who took something that mattered to someone else.”
They reached the car, and Oliver unlocked the doors.
“Well,” he said, sliding into the driver’s seat, “I think you did the opposite.”
Behind them, the little bookstore sat quietly under the trees, and ahead of them, the road was wide open. Janet opened the book in her lap and smiled as the pages fluttered in the breeze.
“Bound to Return” by Nina D. Smith. Published by Bright Bunny Books © 2025. Retelling of “A Man of Straw” from The Windy Hill by Cornelia Meigs, originally published in 1922.
“‘Lost and Bound” is ideal for middle school readers in grades 6–8, offering an age-appropriate exploration of honesty, personal responsibility, and doing the right thing—even when it’s uncomfortable.
Bright Bunny Books 