Cowboy

The kids in the building called her birdlady, but it wasn't meant to be rude. Cheerfully eccentric, Lupe loved and tended her bird visitors all day long on her big balcony, with several small baskets of seeds, fruit and nuts.

What Lupe's nosey neighbors really wanted to know about was her mystery boarder, it's been two years now. No one ever sees him come or go, only his sillouette on her shaded kitchen window. Folks speculated he's ill, or a hermit, or just a loner type who stays home.

When they would ask Lupe about her cowboy friend, she would  smile, and tell them he wasn't a cowboy, but he was retired from a long career in law enforcement.