They were standing there-a father and his two daughters-staring up at birds on a wire. Dozens clustered together, and a single bird off by itself. The three families had been spending a week's vacation together. From time to time there had been tension: Must we do everything together, or is it ok for one of us- usually the father- to opt out? As we looked up at the birds we speculated regarding the experience of that single bird off by itself. One daughter saw him as lonely, the other saw him as having been rejected by the group, and the father saw him as enjoying being off by himself. They laughed at the obvious connection to their relationship. One daughter said "We're just glad that there's room on the wire for us all!!"
