Down by the river

[shewhomust]

When we went to the pool this afternoon, we noticed that the geese were making a terrific racket. Crossing the footbridge we looked down onto the muddy little stretch of riverbank they have claimed as their own: all six geese were at the far end, shouting and pointing, while at the near end, two swans were sitting, apparently quite unconcerned.

By the time we returned after our swim, all was quiet. One of the swans had vanished, and the other was on the water, doing the majestic gliding that swans are known for. All the geese were clustered together, all facing in the same direction, watching it in silence.