A Sore Foot
Written by Leona NielsenPublished on February 2013
A SORE FOOT
Fall was in full swing with the sound of geese preparing to fly south with their spring babies.
“Joseph, can you see where the geese are going?” asked Baby.
“South.” Joseph replied with a devilish look in his eyes.
“I know that! I just want to know where they are in the sky.”
“Why? You can see that they are up there and you are down here.”
“JOSEPH!!!!!!!”
“Oh, all right Baby, they are going to land in the field over the hill.”
“Why is Baby so worried about the geese, Joseph?” Annie asked as she gave a big stretch
.“Geese aren't one of Baby’s favourite things, Annie.”
“Like I don't like my door closed.”
“Well, you could say something like that.”
“I understand.” Annie added as she made her way to her feed bowl.
“Thanks Joseph” Baby whispered.
“What is it about geese that bothers you Baby?”
“It’s their voices and long necks.”
“Have you ever seen one up close?”
“Noooooooo Joseph and I don't care to either!” Baby answered.
“Baby, I think you are judging them without knowing anything about them. Maybe one day you will get a chance to get up close and personal.”
“Oh Joseph, I am not sure about that. Right now I just need to know where they are.”
“I can help you Baby. I'll be your backward eyes.” Annie added.
“Backward eyes????” Baby said with a puzzled look on his face.
“Try eyes in the back of your head.”
“Oh yea, that makes sense Joseph. Thanks, Annie, for looking after me.”
“Not a problem Baby.”
While the Little Ones were talking, Scout was waking up.
“You really slept a long time this morning Scout. Are you feeling all right?” Baby asked.
“The best kind Baby. Sometimes it doesn't hurt to have a sleep-in once in a while.”
“Scout, did you hear the geese earlier?”
“I think I did but I’m not sure. I thought I was having a dream.”
“Oh no, it wasn't a dream. It was a huge herd that passed over the barn, Scout.”
“I think you mean flock, don't you Baby?”
“ Oh, that’s right, we travel in herds and geese in flocks.” Baby replied.
Scout smiled as he left in search of his morning hay.
The fields were starting to show signs of the summer being finished. Just then Annie came running through the barn.
“Hey Annie, wait a minute, want to come with us?”
“Where are you going, Joseph?”
“Well, I thought we could all go foraging for some of that green grass that’s still in the field before it all turns brown.” Joseph replied.
“Sounds like a good idea and maybe Baby won't think about the geese so much.” Annie answered.
“Then let’s go and see what we can find.”
“I want to try over there.” Annie shouted as she ran to the left of the field.
“We can all go in different directions and see who can find the best patch.” Joseph yelled back.
“Joseph, there are times when you can be so smart.”
“Just call it Donkey wisdom, Annie.”
Everyone laughed as they started their search.
“This will give me a chance to see what kind of skills Annie has when it comes to finding her own food.” Joseph thought to himself as he kept his nose to the ground.
Annie was about to yell to the others about her findings but decided against it. She wanted to see if she could find something a little better.
Baby started checking out a part of the field where there was great eating last fall. When he got there he found that the bushes were a lot taller than he remembered.
“Either I am getting shorter or these bushes had a good summer for growing.” Baby was thinking as he pushed some bushes aside.
Annie had decided to catch up with Joseph to tell him what she had found.
“I think I found the best patch Joseph, do you…..” when suddenly there came this noise from the other side of the field.
Both Joseph and Annie looked to see what the noise was when they saw Baby running towards them as if he was in the race of his life.
“Baby, what is wrong?” Joseph yelled as Baby passed them as if they were not there.
“We better go back to the barn and see what is wrong with Baby.” Joseph shouted to Annie.
“Let’s sound the alarm, Joseph, that something is wrong with Baby.”
“What alarm Annie?”
“Our bray as we are running.”
“I don't think there’s a call for that right now until we talk to Baby.”
Moments later they arrived back at the barn only to find that Baby was nowhere to be seen.
“Baby wouldn't have jumped the fence, would he Joseph?”
“No Annie, he wouldn't, because the fence is too tall for Baby‘s short legs. He’s around somewhere. We just have to find him.”
Just then they heard this tiny voice……..“Over here.”
“Baby, is that you?” Joseph asked, as he walked forward.
“Yes, it‘s me.”
They found Baby as far in the corner as he could possibly get.
“You look like you saw a ghost. What happened out there Baby?” Joseph wanted to know.
“I was looking in the bushes for grass and there it was.”
“What Baby?”
“You know Joseph!!!!!”
“If I did I wouldn’t be asking you Baby.”
“I bet I know Joseph!!!!” Annie shouted.
“Okay Annie, tell me.”
“The geese. ”
“Is that what it was Baby?”
“Annie is right Joseph.”
“You mean you came face to face with the geese!!!”
“I certainly did. You know what they say about us. In danger we run. I know I was in overdrive, it scared me so much.” Baby added.
“Are you talking about donkeys too?”
“No, I mean horses, Annie.”
“Why don’t we go and see if the geese are still there?” Annie added.
“You and Joseph can go if you want but I am staying right here!!!”
“You won’t get over your fears Baby, if you don’t confront them.”
“That’s just fine. I will do it another time.”
“Why not do it now Baby?”
“I am not ready.”
“We can make you ready.”
“Now how are we going to do that Annie?” asked Joseph.
“We can go with Baby for support and be the backward eyes to keep him safe. Besides, I need another chance. I didn‘t see them in the bushes.”
“You can go if you want but I have to stay here and get my eyes back to normal.”
Annie looked at Baby saying, “Good grief Baby, your eyes look like they are out of their sockets they are so big.”
Just then, Scout and TC arrived on the scene and within minutes they knew all that had happened.
“That would have been a terrifying experience.” TC remarked.
“Here goes, those big words that I don’t understand. I know you will tell me later.” Annie shouted.
“You can know now Annie. It means that Baby was very afraid. Many years ago, I was afraid of pleasant hens and with lots of support since I have been able to get along with them. Scout and I both feel that you need to do the same Baby and what better time than now when we are all here to support you.” TC added.
“TC, I trust your judgement when it comes to us and because of that I will go with you.”
“HALLELUHA!!!!!! Baby is going to face his fears head on!!!!” yelled Joseph.
“One thing with Joseph, he tells it the way he sees it.” Annie added as she ran ahead of the rest.
“Hello ,Hello anyone there? Maybe they can’t talk like we can.”
“I don’t know about talking but I do know they honk and honk and honk.” Baby whispered.
“Can I give it another try TC?” asked Annie.
“Nothing to lose, that’s for sure.”
Annie took a couple of steps closer to the bushes….“Hello again, my name is Annie. We want to know who you are. Hellooooooooo………..”
Just then the bushes started making a rustling sound. Baby ran behind TC for protection as the bushes parted and there stood a mother goose and her baby.
“Hello, and yes, I can talk as well.” said the mother goose.
It was as if someone had turned off the sound. Everyone stood staring in awe at what they were seeing.
“What brings you to our home when you should be flying south.” asked Joseph.
“My baby injured his webbed foot and we need to rest more than the others.”
“Okay, I guess I have to ask, why is your baby as big as you are and why would a webbed foot stop you from flying?”
“You will have to excuse Annie as she is only 2.”
“Excuse me ….2 and three quarters.”
“Okay. She is 2 and three quarters with a lot of learning to do.” TC answered.
“That’s alright. First, our babies grow very fast from the time they are born until the time comes to fly south. It is a very long journey, especially for them. We need healthy webbed feet for our take offs and landings.”
“I got it now. We need to help you get back in the air again. By the way, Baby, who is behind TC, is afraid of you.” Annie replied.
“I know. We have already met. Hello Baby.”
Baby peeked around TC’s belly.
“Hello.”
“It’s okay, we won’t bite you if you want to come closer.”
“No, that’s alright for now.” Baby answered back.
“We need to get some help for your baby. I think our vet is coming by this afternoon to pick something up from our owners. Maybe she can take a look?”
“Question…how are we going to get Dr.Vet out here in the field?” Annie wanted to know.
“We will go to her. Can your baby walk to the barn?” asked TC.
“I think she can.”
“WOW!!!! She is a girl just like me.” Annie shouted with joy.
Baby was still unsure of the whole matter.
“I have to try and come to terms with my fears. They seem to be very kind.” Baby was thinking as they approached the barn.
“I’ll just check to see if the vet has arrived.” TC said as she made her way to the other side.
“How can we get her to come over here?” asked Baby.
“That won’t be a problem. She always wants to see my handsome face.” Joseph added as he laughed out loud.
“JOSEPH!!!!!” Baby yelled.
“We are here and she will come. Just watch.” Joseph added.
Just then the door opened, and sure enough, there stood the vet looking from one to the other.
“You are all looking so good.” Then her eyes saw the geese.
“Well, I see you have some visitors.”
“We have to do something for her to notice the baby girl’s foot.” Annie said.
“I think that maybe I can help.” Baby answered in a low voice.
Everyone encouraged Baby to go for it. Very slowly he moved towards the baby geese, got behind her and using his nose pushed her forward.
“Oh dear, I see you have injured one of your webbed feet. I wonder if your Mother would let me take a look.”
The vet decided to take a chance and try.
As she got closer, mother goose gently pushed her baby towards her.
A few minutes later the baby goose was sporting a small bandage and the owners were given instruction as to what to do for a couple of days.
“You can sleep in my bed if you want.”
“Can I mom?” asked the baby goose.
“Yes you can but use your manners.”
“You have manners too?”
“Just because we are birds, Annie, doesn’t mean we can’t be polite.”
“Baby, I want to thank you for what you did so the vet would notice. Did you do that so we would leave?” asked mother goose.
“No. I had to face my fear and what better way to help you, and my fears, at the same time. But why do you look like that?” Baby asked.
“Well, I could ask you the same Baby, but it’s just because we all have different looks. If we looked like you when we came out of the bushes, we would not be here in the barn because you would have had no reason to run and because we look different you got to make new friends.
“Nicely explained mother goose.” TC added.
It had been quite the day. Everyone was tired and retired early to bed.
As usual…..“I can’t get to sleep, TC.”
“Why Annie?”
“We have guests for the night and we don’t even know their names.”
“Well, in that case, I am Maude the mother. I am Missy the baby. If all goes well we will be back in the spring and will stop in the bushes to see Baby. Just kidding Baby. We will come to the barn.”
“Thanks for giving me a heads up, Maude.”
“In the spring I will be better with my backward eyes, Baby.”
“Good night everyone.”
“Ditto, TC and Scout.”
Hi Everyone, that is our last story for this year 2010 and what a year it has been for us. Our lessons have been many and we hope you were able to learn something as well. Make sure you stay safe as your family and friends come together to celebrate the holidays. See you in the New Year.
Baby, Joseph, TC, Scout and Little Annie
Also our visitors Maude and Missy