The albatrosses knew that it was time to depart and began swaying in the breeze to say goodbye.

The old man waved his hat, and Samuel clapped his hands as the great birds spread their wings. With a few powerful strokes, they lifted into the air, their white feathers gleaming against the blue sky.

George sighed, but even he couldn’t help smiling as the albatrosses circled once overhead before vanishing into the horizon.

"Come on," he said, his voice softer now. "We’ll visit them again." ...