sheep. You know, I've never touched one." "Never?" Caleb sat up. "Never," said Sarah. She smiled and leaned back in her chair. "But I've touched seals. Real seals. They are cool and slippery and they slide through the water like fish. They can cry and sing. And sometimes they bark, a little like dogs." Sarah barked like a seal. And Lottie and Nick came running from the barn to jump up on Sarah and lick her face and make her laugh. Sarah stroked them and scratched their ears and it was quiet again. "I wish I could touch a seal right now," said Caleb, his voice soft in the night. "So do I," said Sarah. She sighed, then she began to sing the summer song again. Far off in a field, a meadowlark sang, too