Page 36 of Emerald Moon
”It’s okay.It’s your first time, so you’re learning what to look for.I saw you writing, though.”
Jo scrunched up their face and showed the one notebook page they’d half-filled.“I wrote down the colors,” they said, more like a question than a statement.
”That’s great!See, you’re collecting data, too.I’ll do a better job of telling you the names so you can write those down, too — if you want.”
Jo nodded.“I’d like that.”
Whenever they saw a bird that caught Cass’ interest, she would lean in and tell them the name of the bird in a low whisper, her breath tickling their skin and making the hairs on the back of their neck stand up.
”It’s a black-throated blue warbler — a male.”
Jo watched Cass’ pointed finger as it swung to the right.“And a female!”
”Aw, they’re really cute,” they said.
Cass turned, her face inches from Jo’s.“I know, right?”
Her blue eyes had flecks of gold in them.They hadn’t noticed before.With sweaty hands, they gripped their binoculars and glanced back at the two birds.
They walked at a glacial pace, but, for the first time, Jo didn’t mind.They had something to do instead of rushing to the destination, and they started jotting down more about each bird they spotted — color, location, their name, anything Jo noticed about them.
In the end, they’d only walked a short distance by Jo’s standards, but they’d managed to fill a few pages with notes.
”Can I see?”Cass asked, gesturing at Jo’s notebook.
”Yeah, sure.Nothing like your notes, I know, but —“
”You did great!I love how you wrote down what some of them were doing.”
”I really didn’t know what to write.”
”But see?Now you’ll know which birds you saw and their environment when you saw them.You don’t need an app.You know exactly what you need.When we drive back, you can look them up in the guidebook and learn a little more about each one.Or I can tell you.”Cass had an expectant look on her face.
Jo smiled.It was an easy choice.“You can tell me all about them in the car.”
As they walked back towards Cass’ car, Jo’s chest was warm with the kind of feeling someone only gets after a really nice day.They glanced at Cass and saw that the smile on her face hadn’t faded into a neutral expression like it usually did.
It was as good a time as any — “Hey Cass?”
”Yeah?”She kept walking a step ahead of Jo on the narrow path.
”I’ve got a weird favor to ask.”
“I’ll help if I can.”
”Would you go to my sister’s wedding with me?”
Cass stopped on the trail and Jo nearly ran into her.
She turned around.“Yes, I’d like to go with you.”
“Great!But that’s only part of the favor.”Jo’s stomach pinched.“To get my mom off my back about dating men and to get my extended family to just shut up in general, I need a girlfriend to come with me.”
”Oh?”Cass’ eyes widened.
Jo quickly added, “You don’t have to actually be my girlfriend.I just need someone to agree to be my girlfriend for the weekend.”
Cass was silent, her smile slipping, and Jo wondered if they’d pushed too far.They were certain they’d ruined a blooming friendship.
