Chapter 29: The Birdhouse
The following spring, Noah arrived at my workshop with Rebecca and a small sketchbook.
He wanted to build a birdhouse for the maple tree behind their new apartment.
We chose cedar because it held up well outdoors and smelled good when cut.
I measured each board while Noah marked the lengths in pencil.
Hannah helped him sand the edges.
I handled the tools that required adult supervision.
When the pieces fit together, Noah looked startled by his own success.
“I made that,” he said.
“You did,” I answered.
He studied the small house and asked whether birds would actually use it.
I told him we could build a safe place, but we couldn’t order a bird to move in.
He considered that and smiled.
“That makes sense.”
Rebecca took a photograph of Noah holding the finished birdhouse.
She asked his permission before sharing it with relatives.
I noticed the small courtesy because so much of his life had once been discussed without anyone asking him.
After they left, Hannah cleaned the workbench beside me.
She said she was glad I had helped Noah in the parking lot.
I told her I was glad too.
Then she said something that stayed with me.
“I think Mom would have liked how we fixed things.”
I looked at the shelf we had saved from the old kitchen and nodded.
“I think she would have liked the parts we didn’t try to hide.”
