From that day on, Junie became Clove’s unofficial guardian. Every afternoon, she’d trot over to Miss Dottie’s with a basket of treats: corn, grains, and occasionally, a few strawberries sneaked from our own garden. She’d fill Clove’s water dish, fluff her bedding, and spend hours reading her stories from picture books, convinced the hen understood every word.

In return, Miss Dottie became an unexpected ally in navigating the tender heart of a child grappling with complex emotions. She’d share tales of her own childhood, talk about the cycle of life in the garden, and teach Junie the value of cherishing the time we have, whether with people or with a plucky hen like Clove.