Older boys battled for a basketball in a chain link enclosure adjacent to the playground . At the bottom of a small slope behind Genevera ’ s bench , a rain-swollen stream rushed to enrich the Allegheny a mile distant .
When the birds had devoured all of her seeds , Genevera struggled to her feet . Once upright , she paused to steady herself before she shuffled toward her parkside home across the street . A basketball escaped its enclosure and bounced like the Sleepy Hollow Hessian ’ s substitute head , intent upon Genevera ’ s path .
The crow cawed a warning , feathers fluffed .
Too slow and uncoordinated to escape the ball , Genevera closed her eyes and steeled herself , hoping to thereby keep herself from falling .
Two boys of about thirteen pursued their errant ball . At the last second , they rescued it before it bounced into Genevera .
Shaken none-the-less , Genevera ’ s brows lowered . Her feeble voice chastised , “ You could have hurt me with that ball .”
“ Geez , it didn ’ t even touch you .”
“ Yeah , seriously , old lady , what ’ s your problem ?”
The crow continued to caw .