Livora Gracely

The five skaters noticed the scarves first.

Three white cranes had just walked into the skatepark.

Not rolled in.

Walked.

Slowly.

Elegantly.

Each carried a skateboard as though it were something one might bring to an afternoon appointment.

The girl stopped talking.

The mouse stopped chewing.

The leopard lowered the wheel he had been tightening.

Even the polar bear and the turtle turned to look.

One crane stepped onto the concrete and opened her wings.

They unfolded wider and wider, white feathers catching the afternoon light until, for a moment, she seemed far too magnificent for a place filled with scratched rails and dented ramps.

The leopard stared.

“Are they performing?”

The mouse shook his head.

He had no idea.

The second crane smiled at them and gave a small, graceful nod.

Everyone nodded back.

Even the turtle, although his helmet made the gesture look unusually official.

The third crane seemed less interested in introductions.

She placed her skateboard upright, spun one wheel with the tip of her wing, listened carefully, then checked another.

Spin.

Listen.

Spin.

Listen.

The polar bear leaned toward the girl.

“They’re here for the competition.”

The girl looked at the three boards.

“Maybe.”

That maybe stayed with them.

The cranes did not practice.

They did not inspect the ramps.

They did not ask about the course.

After a few minutes, they simply sat together at the edge of the park, red scarves resting against their white feathers, watching everyone else skate.

That was somehow worse.

The leopard attempted a turn and nearly missed it because he was looking at them.

The mouse tried his favorite rail.

For once, he landed without celebrating.

The turtle rolled past the cranes twice, apparently by accident both times.

The girl finally whispered, “Why aren’t they practicing?”

The polar bear shrugged.

“Maybe they don’t skate.”

Five faces brightened.

A pleasant explanation.

Then a breeze crossed the park.

Beside the cranes, one skateboard began rolling toward the slope.

The third crane reached out.

One foot stopped it.

Without standing, without looking down, she flicked the board upward.

It rose neatly from the concrete, rotated once—

and landed upright against her wing.

Silence.

The mouse slowly removed his bunny hat.

The leopard’s mouth opened.

The turtle blinked.

The polar bear stared at the competition poster.

The crane smiled politely.

Then she sat back down.

No explanation.

No demonstration.

Nothing else.

The five friends looked at one another.

A week suddenly felt much shorter.

Across the park, three red scarves moved gently in the breeze.

And their owners continued watching.