Emily and Emmet rode the bus in relative silence. He kept trying to make her laugh with funny faces and prat fall antics when the bus would stop. Her heart hadn't felt that light in years, and far sooner than she expected, the bus pulled up to the transfer station park and ride where she would board the last bus before home. Emmett got up as the bus came to a stop, and to her surprise, he followed her onto the platform and over to the bench. A grackle flew down from the rafters of the shelter as they settled onto the bench. They sat brushing shoulders as he pulled out a zip-top plastic bag of beef jerky, ripped off a chunk and put the bag away before pulling a small piece off and tossing it to the grackle. He ripped it in half and offered her some, still watching the bird.
The grackle eye
