9. Happy Swans, Hungry Kids

Chapter 9 Happy Swans, Hungry Kids While they waited, the kids played with the baby goat. He nibbled on their fingers and licked the palms of their hands. "Okay, we're all set!" Tom said a few minutes later. He came back with a tall man wearing a green sweatshirt like his. "This is Luke. He's a volunteer like Mr. Neater, and he's going to help us."

Luke was carrying a plastic kiddie pool. "We use this for ducklings," he said. "But it'll be perfect for your project." The three adults, four kids, and Pal headed back to Center Park. "Can you take us to the swans' nest?" Tom asked. "Sure," Bradley said. He and Pal led the way. "Look," Lucy whispered as they approached the nest. One of the swans was lying on the nest. The other one swam in the pond nearby. "The mother is on the nest," Luke whispered. "Her mate keeps an eye on her to make sure she's safe." "That poor mother swan is trying to hatch the eggs," Mr. Neater said. "Okay, to make this work, we need to get her off the nest," Luke said. He walked toward the nest, waving the kiddie pool.

The mother swan hissed at him, but she hopped off her nest and backed away. Never taking her eyes off the humans, she waded into the pond. She joined her mate and glared at the intruders. With the mother swan out of the nest, everyone could see the golden Easter eggs. Mr. Neater removed the eggs and handed them to the four kids. Suddenly the mother swan streaked over toward the kids, hissing and snapping her beak. Luke and Tom waved their arms, and she went back to the pond. But she did not look happy. "It's okay, Momma Swan," Mr. Neater said. "Pretty soon, you'll have babies to keep you busy!" "Ready to get wet?" Tom asked Luke and Mr. Neater. He kicked off his sneakers. "How deep is the water?" Mr. Neater asked. He was pulling off his shoes and socks. "Not very," Luke said, removing his sneakers. "I helped clean up some litter last year. I only got wet up to my knees."

"Can we help?" Bradley asked. "Absolutely," Tom said. "After all, this was your idea! But first, this." Very gently, Tom took the two real swan eggs out of his sweatshirt pouch. He laid them in the center of the swans' nest. "Now let's gather around the nest," Tom said. "All seven of us will lift it together and place it inside the kiddie pool." "Careful not to let the nest break apart," Mr. Neater said. On a count of three, they picked up the nest and set it into the plastic pool. "Great!" Tom said. "Now Mr. Neater, Luke, and I will float it out to the island. I think the water is too deep for you kids." The three adults waded into the water. They floated the kiddie pool—with the swan nest inside—between them. The two swans hissed and flapped their wings. They followed the group to the island.

Bradley, Brian, Lucy, and Nate watched them lift the nest out and set it on the island rocks. Then the three adults came back with the kiddie pool. "This should be interesting," Tom said. He sat on the shore. "Let's watch and see what they do." The two swans swam up to the little island. They stretched their long necks and looked inside their nest. Then they both began grunting. "They've seen the eggs!" Bradley said. It took just a few seconds for the mother swan to sit on the eggs. Her mate stayed near the nest.

"I think the problem has been solved," Mr. Neater said. He grinned at the kids. "That was a great idea!" "So now the raccoons and snakes won't be able to get their eggs, right?" Nate said. "That's right," Tom said. "Where the nest was before, any creature could sneak up and steal the eggs while Momma Swan was off the nest. But