Evan stops so suddenly, I nearly bump into him.
“Whoa.”
His voice drops to a whisper.
“They’re huge.”
J.T.nods, resting his hands on his hips as he watches the birds.
“They’ve been here a while.”
“Do they live here all the time?”Evan asks.
“Yeah.”
Evan studies them, completely mesmerized as the pair drift toward the edge of the pond.
“They’re always together?”Evan says, but it’s more like a question.
“They are,” J.T.replies.
“Why?”
J.T.glances at me briefly before answering.I’ve heard this story, but it still makes my heart well every time he tells it.
“Well, you see, the female got hurt a few years back.Wing never healed right.”
Evan frowns.
“So she can’t fly?”
“Nope.”
Evan watches the swans more closely now.
“But the other one could, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why didn’t he leave?”
J.T.takes a slow breath, eyes following the male swan as it glides protectively beside the female.
“Guess he didn’t want to.”
Evan tilts his head.
“Because they’re friends?”
J.T.huffs softly.
“Something like that.”
Evan considers this with the seriousness only a ten-year-old can muster.
“That’s kinda cool.”
“Yeah,” J.T.says quietly.“It is.”
