The summer afternoon drifted by as gently as the loons across the water. On the grassy bank, a brother and sister lingered, their wide-brimmed hats shielding them from the sun as they watched the sleek birds glide in pairs. Across the lake, their friend sat on the rocks near the boats, waving now and then, her laughter carrying faintly over the ripples. The children had no need for hurry—this was a place where time slowed, where the call of the loons and the soft swaying of the reeds made the whole world feel peaceful.