"Mom, Mom, come quick," yelled Billy as he ran down the stairs.

Mrs. Johnson ran toward the stairway. "Billy, what's the matter?" she asked as Billy landed with a thud on the last step.   "Are you all right?"

Billy ran into the kitchen, Mrs. Johnson followed quickly behind him.

"Mom, look out the window.   Look there...in the garden!"

Mrs. Johnson looked out the kitchen window.   "Oh, my goodness," she said.

There in the sun, in the garden, stood Stuart.   On his shoulder perched a large, black crow.

"I thought the crows were supposed to be scared of Stuart," said Billy.   "Why isn't Stuart making that crow go away, Mom?"

Mrs. Johnson looked out the window again.

"Well, this is very strange," she said.   "From here, it looks like the crow is talking to Stuart and Stuart is shaking his head.   There must be a breeze out there making Stuart's head move."

"Maybe he and the crow are friends," said Billy.   "At one time they didn't like each other, but now, that Stuart doesn't have to keep them away from the seeds, they can be friends."

"I think you're right, Billy," said Mrs. Johnson.   "They certainly do look friendly."

Billy looked out the window and smiled as he watched Stuart and the crow.

His mother laid her hand on his shoulder.  

"Now," she said, "weren't you going to go out in the field and take Dad some iced tea?   He must be getting pretty thirsty by now."

"Okay," said Billy, as he turned and grabbed the thermos to take to his father.