CHANGE OF COMMAND

Written by Leona Nielsen
Published on November 2014

The moon was pushing itself down behind the clouds as the sun was waiting to take over. Annie had just woken up. Her sleep has been restless and a lot of that was due to her waiting to chat with the overnight guests before they left. Joseph also stirred, trying to get one eye open. When he did, he caught a glimpse of Annie brushing the sleep out of her eyes. He certainly wasn’t ready to start his day.
“Annie, why are you all fired up to go when the sun is not fully up yet?â€
“Joseph, remember we have company and they will be leaving soon.â€
“Company?†added Baby as he shook himself awake.
“What company?â€
“Remember Mother Goose and her family. They touched down last night on the way to their winter home.â€
“Oh right. I had forgotten that.†Joseph answered.
“Me too.†replied Baby.
“Am I the only one who remembered we had company? Should have known. You are boys.â€
“What does she mean by that?â€
“Joseph, hello! It means she’s a girl!!!â€
“Oh yeah.†answered Joseph with a smile.
“JOSEPH, one of these days….to the moon Alice!!!!â€
That made Joseph laugh even harder. He still had the wit.
“We better hurry because they like to leave early. Breakfast can wait a few minutes.†shouted Annie as she started out of the barn.
“Well, that is easy enough for her to say she hasn’t got a stomach yelling “Feed Me!â€â€ Joseph mumbled as he followed with Baby.
“Joseph, you know I still have a problem with the geese when they take off and the honking sound they make. You do remember, don’t you Joseph?â€
“No worries Baby, I got your back. With me being as hungry as I am I’m going to be wanting to leave to shut my stomach up .â€
“I knew I could count on you Joseph.â€
As they turned the corner of the barn all they could see was feathers. The flock counted in the twenties. Annie had never seen a flock that big before.
“Hi everyone! We wanted to come and see you before you left for your winter home and wish you a safe trip.â€
Just then a single goose appeared from the centre of the flock.
“Hi! You are now - don’t tell me………Annie?â€
“Yes, Mother Goose. It is I. Do you remember Baby and Joseph?â€
“Yes. Give me a minute now………Joseph is the donkey and that’s Baby. He doesn’t like the honking noise we make.â€
“WOW! I am impressed.†Joseph whispered to Baby.
“Nice to see you again Mother Goose.†Baby shyly replied.
“Oh! I think I better explain something and I fully understand because we all look alike. I am the oldest daughter of Mother Goose. She wasn't able to make the trip this year so she stayed behind with a few others when we came in the spring. Me, being the oldest and with the help of my siblings, guided the flock here for the summer. It is going to be more of a challenge going back with all the new young ones we have. Mother Goose taught us well and so far we are doing okay. The key is, we have to work as a team.â€
The Little Ones didn't quite know what to say. Baby, when he came, was only worried about getting out of there before they started making that honking sound and Joseph was worried about getting back to his breakfast. Annie well she………
“Oh! I have to get TC, Havier and Jake. They have to
know what is happening and Mother Goose isn't here.
Don't take off until they wish you a safe trip too. I'll be right back!†Annie yelled as she started back to the barn.
“Can one of you stop her? We have seen them already.â€
“Really!†Joseph answered with wonderment in his voice
“ANNIE! COME BACK! THEY HAVE SEEN THEM†Baby shouted.
It was as if there was a wall in front of Annie as she stopped so fast in her tracks and turned around to see what Baby meant by that.
“Come back Annie. You see, they have already said good-bye.â€
“How can that be when I was the first one up?†Annie was totally confused.
“They passed by just as the moon went down.â€
“That is strange. Where were they headed?â€
“They went in the direction of the big tree. Mother Goose told us about the tree and not to fly too low over it just in case you were under it.â€
“Mother Goose certainly covered every base teaching you.†added Joseph.
“A good leader she was but I am afraid we have to take off because we have a long way to go to get to our next resting place before dark.â€
Still a little stunned over hearing where TC, Havier and Jake were, the Little Ones wished them all a safe trip along with wishes for Mother Goose. It was just seconds later that everyone was in the air. Knowing how Baby felt about the honking they kept it to a low note. Suddenly, there was silence as if it was just a dream.
“I don’t know about you but I have to take a peep at the big tree and see if they are really there. Not that I doubt the geese but it seems so strange.â€
“Baby, what I can’t understand is why so early in the morning?†added Joseph.
“Me too on that one. Now, who is going to take the peep? We aren’t supposed to go there without permission remember. It is only that we need to know for sure that is where they are.â€
“Think about it. We aren’t going right down to the tree but taking a peep over the hill. That is different, isn’t it?â€
“I think it should be me. I can stretch my neck out and have a good look.†Joseph replied.
“Maybe we should just wait until they come back to the barn. I don’t feel comfortable because we aren’t supposed to go there.â€
“Baby is right. We should just wait. Let’s go back for breakfast before my stomach gets madder at me.†Joseph added.
Just as the Little Ones were heading back to the barn, the ground started to vibrate signaling the movement of hoofs. As they turned in the direction of the sound they saw Havier and Jake’s ears peeping over the hill followed a TC’s.
“Did you say good bye to the Geese?†asked Havier.
“Yes we did and Mother Goose wasn’t with them. Did you know that Havier?â€
“Yes. They told us this morning and like you, we thought she was with the flock in the spring.â€
“Good morning Little Ones. Have you had breakfast yet?â€
“No, TC, we haven’t because we wanted to see the Geese before they left.†Annie answered wondering if she should be bold enough to ask why they were at the Big tree so early in the morning.
Just then, Baby poked her as if he was reading her mind. Annie turned to Baby assuring him that she would keep her mouth shut.
“Alright. Let’s all go for breakfast because we haven’t eaten either and I would like all of us to come back to the big tree.†TC answered.
“Oh good. Are going to have story time?†Annie asked as TC turned and started towards the barn.
Baby and Joseph ….well if they were confused earlier it was worse now. It wasn‘t long before their bellies were full and they were ready to go. Once at the Big Tree, TC asked if they would form a circle as they always did.
“I know by the looks on your faces that you all have a question or two about this morning.â€
“Can I say something TC?â€
“Yes, Baby, you can.â€
“You could say that. We did find it rather strange. We knew that you came to the Big Tree during the day but never early in the morning. Is there something wrong TC?â€
“You know that Mother Goose didn’t make the trip with the rest in the spring and her daughter led the flock. Right?
“Yes, TC, we do.†answered Joseph.
“Well, that brings us to why we are here. This isn’t easy for me but I have come to that point in my life when I feel it is in the best interests of everything that I take a step back. You know how the changing of the seasons haven’t been kind to me lately, especially winter. I think it is best that I pass the torch on.â€
TC stopped talking for a moment to allow the Little Ones to digest what she had just said. She realized then that having told Havier and Jake earlier was the best thing she could have done. The expressions of the Little Ones were hard to see as she knew this was going to be difficult for them to understand. They had known only her and Missy as Leaders. Now she was asking them to accept someone else.
“I can tell from what I see that you are confused. Havier, Jake and Myself had this discussion this morning right here and now I am having it with you.â€
“I know I am not supposed to interrupt when someone is talking, TC, but I have to know what is going to happen to us if you aren’t our leader?†shouted Baby in a voice that told it all.
“Baby, I know it is going to be different but at the same time I am not stepping down and leaving you with no one to turn to for advice or for guidance. This is so difficult for me but it’s something that has to happen. I thought it best to talk to Havier and Jake first before I spoke with you. Baby, what this means is now you, Joseph and Annie will have two to help you and that will be Havier and Jake. It is not going to be easy for them at first either and I ask that you all work as a team just like Mother Goose’s daughter told you she had to do and it will work. Havier and Jake - I have to ask you if you are ready to accept the change of command and Little Ones are you ready to accept their leadership?â€
“Oh TC, I can only speak for myself but I feel like a ton of bricks just hit me.†replied Baby.
“A Mack truck for me.†added Joseph.
“I feel like a hurricane just passed through.â€
“I know Annie. It is a lot to take in.â€
“Well, maybe everyone is thinking it but I have to ask TC - are you not feeling well?â€
“Annie, there are days that I don’t feel twenty again and it is getting harder for me and I want to rest more. If that is what you mean, I am not as well as I wasâ€
“Can we have a moment, TC, and discuss this?â€
“Yes Joseph, I would feel better if you would.â€
At that moment TC realized how far the Little Ones had come in growing up.
“TC, we have noticed for some time now there were times that you were slower doing things….well, you know. We all know that it won’t be the same not having you as our leader but we also understand that you are tired. We will do our best and Havier and Jake, we hope you will give it a try because if it has to be someone we would rather it be you.†Joseph replied trying to hold the tears back.
“Havier and Jake told me earlier that they would but it would depend upon how you felt, so I guess now it is official. Let’s go back to the barn and enjoy the rest of the day and tonight I will step down and in the morning you will have two good leaders. I have taught them all I know as well as what Missy taught me. There will always be hiccups but you will be in good hands.â€
The walk back to the barn was an emotional one for all and for all in a different way. Havier and Jake knew they had big hoofs to fill and the Little Ones were kind of at a loss.
“This is going to be so different!â€
“That it will be Annie but we will make it through and at the end of each day we will still be a family.â€
With all that had happened no one noticed that there was something standing in the barn door.
“I hope I am not interrupting and if I am I can come back another time.â€
Everyone stood silent until Baby spoke up…..
“No, that is fine. We have just had one of those hiccups kind of a day.â€
“I know exactly what you mean and some of them can be far from pleasant. Sorry. I am Dodger the cat. My owner just moved in across the street so I am very new to everything. When I was young I didn‘t mind moving around. Now it is a bit more difficult.â€
“Please come in and join us and meet our family. By the way, I am Baby.â€
Before they knew it the sun was starting to set.
“I better get home before it gets dark. Thank you for sharing your day with me. I feel a bit better knowing you are across the street. I hope you don’t mind if I drop in now and then. Maybe we can help one another with having all the changes in our lives.â€
“That would be nice and maybe the next time you will meet Mother Kitty and her kids.â€
“Later, everyone.†Dodger replied as he walked away.
“I like him. Oh! TC, did you see our new cat from across the street?â€
“I did and from what I have seen and from what I have heard you will be able to help each other. The moon is rising and that means one thing…….Good Night Little Ones.â€
“Good Night TC. We love you for you.â€
　　
There are those times when we have to say good-bye to someone you love. Be it an animal or Human.
In September we had to say good-bye to TC. She had lived a wonderful 28 years and will be missed so much……The circle of life.

As Always…..Stay safe and remember to let someone you love know.
See you next month as the barn takes another chapter.
Baby, Joseph, Havier, Jake and all the rest.