A Copper Market pigeon stole a pencil from an inspector’s clipboard this morning. The bird carried it to the roof of a nearby stall. The inspector waited. The pigeon dropped the pencil onto a stack of permit forms.
The pencil made a long mark across three boxes. One form was accidentally marked: “APPROVED.” The approval has been cancelled. The stallholder involved has objected, arguing that the mark was made using an official pencil during official hours. The Market Office has rejected this argument.
The pigeon has not returned the pencil. Inspectors are now using pencils attached to string. A child has asked whether the pigeon is employed by the Market Office. The official answer is no. The practical answer is increasingly complicated.

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