George and John had been hiking in the coastal mountains together since John was eight years old, and
they always looked forward to this special time they shared.
Today's hike was extra special because it was John's twelfth birthday. George was trying hard not to
let on just yet that he had remembered, and it was all he could do to hold back his excitement about
the gift he'd carefully placed in his pack before they set out that morning.
Remembering John's present got him thinking about tomorrow and what lay in store for himself and the boy,
and he suddenly felt sad. When he glanced over and saw the contentment in John's face as he watched a flock
of herons speed across the sky, his mood brightened once again and his sadness vanished.
Over the years, George had gradually trained John to be observant of
his surroundings. He taught him the names of the flowers, trees and animals
they found throughout town and on the trail. He also taught John to be
aware of the changes in the weather, pointing out to him the different kinds of clouds, storms and winds.
He wanted the boy to cultivate a deep appreciation and a lasting respect for the
natural world.
'I guess it was all about today,' George thought. 'All the
training and guidance I've given John has come down to this day, his twelfth
birthday, his last day on Earth'.