Eddie knelt on the ground in the park, next to his bike and inspected it carefully. He had been riding it when he gone over a small bump in the path. He had to check both tires to make sure the bump was simply a bump and not something that would have caused a puncture. He didn't want to be riding his bike and have a flat. That was dangerous.
Eddie heard the flapping of wings and glanced up at the eagle, watching it land on the branch. There was a time when he would have been worried Instead, he let himself think of what his friends would say. Bill would tell him that it was okay to like animals. Ben would remind him that eagle syndrome is not caused by actual eagles. Richie would tell him not to worry, birds wouldn't shit on him 'cause he's too small of a target. And then follow it up by patting his back or holding his hand. They'd all be telling him not to be scared in their ways.
Eddie stayed quiet for another moment, then told the bird. "Hi. Stan would have liked you." He knew birds couldn't understand him. He was just proving to himself that he was brave.