"And in a clump of grass, he finds it.
A young wounded bird. Scared,
unable to fly.
They look at each other with wide-
open eyes.
Adrian uses his school jacket to
wrap it up carefully."
Today's post repeats the joy in the kindness that children feel when they are confronted with injured animals, or distressing events. Adrian, always in trouble, and Santiago, never so, are steadfast friends. They like to spend time together after school. While spending time in an empty lot, Adrian discovers a wounded bird in the grass. Readers know what happened to the falcon. It is shown in illustrations prior to the story's opening.
He decides he will take care of it. Not sure how, he asks his mother. She has no answers. The next day Adrian skips school to care for the bird. Santiago knows how to help. They take the bird to someone who might be able to help.
"The old guy who cures bones
has never seen a falcon. But
he does his work carefully -
checks the wing, straightens it,
immobilizes it, bandages it."
The box that shelters the bird is hidden high in a tree. The boys provide the care it needs. That bird fires a new kind of learning for Adrian. For the first time, he speaks in class and shares what he is learning about birds of prey. It is a turning point for him. When a storm threatens the bird, he and Santiago run to find its box broken and the falcon gone. Hopefully, they will see it again.
Compassionate and powerful ... what we have come to expect from this fine team.
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