“Why doesn’t she take shelter?” Marcus asked.
“And go where?” scoffed Marie, the older sibling.
“If she leaves, then everything will get wet,” explained Junie.
They continued staring.
“That’s what mothers do, right?” Marcus said softly. “They don’t leave their loved ones.”
“Even if it’s just an egg?” asked Junie.
“Never,” Marie said.
“But our mother left,” Junie whispered, tearing.
“Sometimes, even mothers get blown away by strong winds,” Marie replied, her voice breaking.
Outside, the mother bird sat still, water dripping off her feathers.