At lunchtime in Felt Presence, a thimble went missing.

The skeletons found it in the dollhouse fitting room, sitting squarely on a pumpkin’s head.

“Hat,” said the pumpkin.

“Thimble,” said the skeletons.

“Then it fits beautifully.”

By the time the matter reached the ceramic pumpkin, three more customers were wearing thimbles.

He took the cap off one of his acorns and placed it on the counter.

The skeletons examined it in silence.

“Summer collection,” one said.

They opened a millinery department in a matchbox. The original thimble remained unavailable for sewing.