By eight the embankment already had a quiet class. The balls greeted the nose, nodded to the boat, and only then sat on exactly one whisker. No extras. The next guest waited in the water until the seal had finished laying out its welcome.
We asked at the kiosk down the street. "I thought they were just bouncing in the sun," said a woman with a paper bag of pretzels. "Then a ball nodded to the boat, and the whisker leaned in as if it had been holding a chair."
The park keeper left a note on the rail: guests may watch, but please do not clap until tea. By noon the water already knew one polite way to sit still.