The Red Tail

Ages 9-12

Paltiel draws a long red tail on the back of a paper pattern.

He leaves room for the bird's body. His red pencil lies beside a glass of water on the porch rail.

Three boys have told him about the bird this morning. One at the gate, one beside the front steps, and one on the sidewalk. Each says it has a bright red tail.

Now his cousin comes out onto the porch.

Paltiel points toward the garden.

"Three boys saw it."

"When?"

Paltiel looks at the blank space in front of his red tail.

The first boy is still at the gate, waiting for the other two. Paltiel goes down the steps.

"When did you see the bird?"

"My brother told me. He thought he saw a red tail by the fence."

The second boy comes over from the steps.

"Did you see it?" Paltiel asks.

"He told me."

He points to the first boy.

The third boy reaches the gate.

"What did you see?" Paltiel asks him.

"He said so."

He points to the second boy.

The three boys go down the sidewalk together.

Paltiel returns to the porch.

His cousin looks across the garden. Then he opens the front door and goes inside. The latch clicks shut.

Paltiel picks up his red pencil.

The long tail reaches toward the edge of the paper. The space for the bird is still empty.

A sparrow lands on the rail. Its brown tail dips as it settles.

Paltiel watches it for a breath.

Then he puts down the pencil and turns the sketch face down beside the glass of water.