I stood by the fence of the Great Lawn and scanned through the tall tree by the backstop hoping to see our friend. He wasn't there.
"What is he doing with that 'Out'a-Space thing' Mommy?" I heard the tiny voice of a little girl behind me.
"I don't know Honey, it looks like a giant camera I think." replied the girls mother.
I turned to look at the little girl who stood several feet away and stared at the camera and I.
"This is a camera," I said to the little creature who looked at me shyly. "I use it to take pictures of my special friends in the park." I continued as I took a photograph of Palemale out from my vest pocket and gave it to the girl's mother. "This is a picture of my most special friend who likes to sit in that tree sometimes." I pointed to the empty tree by the backstop.
"Oh Honey look! It's a hawk! This man takes pictures of this beautiful hawk!"
The little girl took the picture and smiled as she stared at the image. I noticed that the child's face was a bit reddish but did not think anything of it presently.
"Here is a picture of his baby," I offered her another photograph of Palemale & Lola's baby taken several years ago. The little girl's face really lit up at the sight of this second photograph.
"Do you know that this is the first time my daughter smiled all day." said the mother. "She was crying all morning so much that we had to get off the bus."
"Well let me tell you this;" I said looking down at the tiny girl who wore a loose sundress decorated with colorful floral prints, "if I didn't have my beautiful friends to visit each day in the park I'll be crying all day long too." My new little friend never stopped smiling.
"This is the happiest part of our day...isn't it?" The mother said to her daughter.
"I'm just happy that you didn't stay on that old bus." I said as the little girl saw some more pictures of an adorable squirrel, an owl and Lola. I offered several photographs because I figured since they probably had a long walk home I wanted to make sure my little friend had a good stock of smiling material.
"I'm sorry but I don't have any money to give you for these beautiful photographs." said the mother presently.
"Oh no, these gifts are not for money--only smiles" I said. The little girl blushed and smiled and then she smiled some more.
"From now on, anytime I feel myself wanting to cry I'll just think of you and I just know that all my tears will just go away like that!" I snapped my fingers.
My new friend went home and I continued to search for Palemale in the rain. I didn't find him all day, so after a long while I stood under a tree on the opposite side of the lawn and fancied that he was somewhere about very busy in some kind of special community service doing what he could to make sure on this rainy Sunday no little girls anywhere in New York City had any reason to cry. If that was indeed the case I am so happy that he used me and my 'Out'a Space Thing' to bring a smile to that special little person even if I may never see her again.
Lola in one quarter of a second at f/8 in the rain and weak light--but Lola all the same.
Lola going to sleep.
All images above are Lola on the AMNH and the Beresford photographed Monday August 16, 2010.
The story of the little girl took place last Sunday.
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