Elizabeth stopped about 50 yards along the sidewalk on her way to second grade. She motioned me to come. She bowed her head over a small lump on the sidewalk. As I came closer, the bird’s body took form.

“Dada.”
“Aww.”
Pause. Silence that I felt like filling.
Profound thoughts escaped me.
“If it’s still there after school maybe you can get some gardening gloves and do something with it.” Good one, Dada. Very poetic.
More silence.
Then she buried her face in my belly and wrapped her arms around my waist.
“Bye bye.”
After a moment she blew me a kiss and walked off.
I took a picture, watched until she met Father Steve at the corner, and came back to write.