Lisa stood back watching the scene with a warm smile.
Canary leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as the children waited eagerly. He cleared his throat, a playful glint in his eye.
"Once upon a time," he began, "there was a little rabbit—smart, kind, and full of energy. She loved hopping around, helping others, and bringing joy to everyone she met. But the rabbit had a secret: she didn't trust wolves."
The children gasped dramatically, already hooked.
"Why didn't she trust wolves?" one of the kids asked, leaning closer.
Canary chuckled. "Because wolves were known to be sneaky and always up to no good. But one day, the rabbit met a wolf. He was different—at least, he thought he was. The wolf wasn't interested in tricking the rabbit. Instead, he just wanted to watch her hop around and maybe, just maybe, learn how to hop himself."
Lisa, standing nearby, folded her arms and gave Canary a knowing look, her cheeks turning pink as she realized where the story was going.
"But," Canary continued, "the rabbit didn't trust him. She kept her distance, always watching him carefully. The wolf, though, didn't give up. He followed her, not to hunt her, but because he thought the rabbit was the most amazing creature he'd ever seen. He tried to prove himself by protecting her from other wolves and bringing her the tastiest carrots he could find."
The children giggled. "Did the rabbit like him?" one asked eagerly.
Canary smiled, his gaze flickering to Lisa for a brief moment. "It wasn't easy. The rabbit was stubborn, and the wolf… well, he was clumsy. But slowly, she started to see that not all wolves were bad. Some wolves just needed a chance to show they could be kind and caring too."
The kids sighed dreamily, completely immersed in the story.
"And?" another child pressed. "Did the rabbit and the wolf become friends?"
"Friends?" Canary grinned, leaning back dramatically. "They became more than friends. They became partners—hopping and running through the forest together, stronger and happier than ever."
The children clapped, delighted by the story. Lisa, on the other hand, shook her head with a small smile. "Nice story, Mister," she said, her voice teasing but soft.
Canary turned to her, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Glad you approve, Rabbit."
The children burst into laughter, while Lisa simply rolled her eyes, her cheeks warm with both embarrassment and affection.
As the children clapped and laughed at the end of Canary's story, one of the younger boys tugged at his sleeve.
"Mister, can you come and play 'Catch the Kitchen' with us?"
Canary blinked, confused. "Catch the kitchen? What kind of game is that?"
The kids giggled, and the boy explained enthusiastically.
"It's our favorite game! One person is the 'kitchen,' and the rest of us have to chase them and tag them. When we catch the 'kitchen,' they have to be the cook and start over!"
Canary glanced at Lisa, who was standing nearby with a smirk on her face. "Sounds intense," he said, raising an eyebrow. "What do you think, Rabbit? Should I join?"
Lisa chuckled. "Oh, I think you'd be a great kitchen, Mister. Go for it."
The kids erupted into cheers, pulling Canary toward the open compound.
He stood there for a moment, rolling up his sleeves with an exaggeratedly serious expression. "Alright, who's the kitchen first?"
The kids laughed as one of the older boys volunteered to start.
The chase began, with laughter and squeals filling the air as Canary joined in, running and dodging with surprising agility.
Lisa watched from the sidelines, her arms crossed, a warm smile spreading across her face.
For someone who claimed not to be "kid-friendly," Canary was doing an excellent job proving otherwise.
As Lisa stood by, watching Canary run around with the children, Stella quietly walked up beside her.
She glanced at the scene unfolding before them, a soft smile gracing her lips.
"He's quite something," Stella said gently, her tone carrying a hint of amusement.
Lisa turned to her, a little startled but smiling. "He is," she admitted, her eyes following Canary as he pretended to stumble, letting one of the kids tag him.
"The children have taken to him quickly," Stella added, her gaze warm. "That doesn't happen often. They must see something good in him."
Lisa chuckled, crossing her arms. "Maybe it's because he's letting them win."
Stella laughed softly, then looked at Lisa more closely. "And you, Lisa? What do you see in him?"
Lisa hesitated, her cheeks warming slightly. "I… see someone trying to be better. Someone who's not afraid to let his guard down, even if it's just for a little while."
Stella nodded knowingly, her smile deepening. "That's a rare thing. Hold on to it, Lisa."
Lisa glanced at her, a mix of gratitude and nervousness in her expression. "Thanks, Stella. I'll keep that in mind."
They both returned their attention to the game, watching as Canary dramatically collapsed to the ground, declaring himself "too tired to cook," sending the kids into fits of laughter. Stella laughed softly, her voice tinged with approval.
"He's a good one, Lisa. Don't let him slip away."
" What do you mean ?" Lisa asked with Pretence.
" I heard his wolf and rabbit story. I can already tell that you two aren't just friends.." Stella spoke with a smile and then walked away.
As the laughter and games died down, Canary glanced at his watch and realized it was already 5 p.m. He sighed and stretched, brushing dust off his shirt.
"I didn't realize how late it's gotten," he said, walking toward Lisa. "I think it's time for me to head back."
Lisa nodded with a small smile. "Alright. Let me walk you to the car."
Before they could move, the children swarmed around Canary, tugging at his arms and shirt.
"You're leaving already?" one of them asked, pouting.
"Yeah, Mister Canary! Can't you stay longer?" another chimed in.
Canary crouched to their level, smiling warmly. "I'd love to, but I have to go now. I promise I'll visit again sometime, okay?"
The kids exchanged glances before grinning. "You better! And next time, you'll be the best 'kitchen' again!"
He chuckled. "Deal."
The group walked him to his car, their chatter and laughter filling the air. As he opened the car door, one of the younger children hugged him tightly. "Don't forget, okay?"
"I won't," Canary said, ruffling the child's hair.
Lisa watched the scene with a soft smile, standing a little to the side.
As Canary climbed into the car, the kids waved enthusiastically, shouting, "Bye, Mister Canary! Come back soon!"
Canary waved back through the window. "Take care, everyone!"
As the car pulled away, Lisa stood with Stella and the children, watching until it disappeared down the road.
There was a warmth in her chest she couldn't quite explain, but one thing was clear—Canary had made an impression not just on her, but on everyone at the orphanage.
Lisa said nothing, but the small, thoughtful smile on her face spoke volumes.