Mira walks past the Miller's house on her way to the garden. She spots a golden retriever pressing his wet nose against the window glass. She cups her hands around her eyes. How does he stay so happy? She wonders.
The dog barks once, a sharp cheerful sound, then trots to his food bowl and nudges it with his nose. Mira smiles. She waves at the window and keeps walking.
Mira wanders to the community garden where Mrs. Chen keeps a row of glass tanks along the fence. She leans close and watches orange fish spiral through the water, their fins flicking like ribbons.
'Do they ever get out?' she asks. Mrs. Chen points to the bubbler rising in the corner. Mira nods slowly, watching the fish keep spiraling in their forever circle.
At the park, Mira climbs the old oak tree and spots a nest tucked between two thick branches. Twigs woven tight, lined with soft blue feathers.
A mother bird lands beside it, drops a wriggling worm inside, and settles down to keep it warm. Mira sits very still on the branch and watches the nest sway.
Mira runs home with a piece of chalk and draws three circles on her driveway: a house, a bowl of water, and a nest. In each one she writes a word — food, water, home.
She steps back to look at her drawing. The sun is warm on her shoulders and the chalk dust covers her knees. She walks back to the driveway and draws a fourth circle.
A small sound comes from the hedge — a sneeze, then a rustle. Mira pushes aside the leaves and finds a shivering kitten with wide green eyes.
She scoops it up and carries it inside, where she fills a bowl with water and sets a soft blanket on the kitchen floor. The kitten drinks, then curls into the blanket and begins to purr.
