The Welcoming Committee

The light came over the vast fields of Ohio. Each sunbeam nourishes the soil and the grass. Each morning a new day on the Bradbury farm. Each day brought challenges for the farmer and his family. The many animals, including cows, cats, geese, sheep, and other animals, resided in some of the quietest places in the world. The neighbors were far away, and this place was like most other farms. The family was up every morning to take care of the property being busy all day.

Of all the animals, there was a goose named Brunhilda. She was a friendly goose and decided to start a welcoming committee on the Bradbury farm. The cats elected her head mainly because the cows and sheep could care less. She was always trying to welcome any guest who would listen to her. Just sit in her yard, and she will talk to you without a problem. She just loved when the many guests came to pick up their farm products. She just waddled over, ready to greet. She honked, and they understood since all the human mutter sounds understood each other.

Her white feathers were always kept to look her best. She learned that when she was a gosling. The many guests just smiled to see the silly goose greeting and had some entertainment while the farmer and his family were busy at work. She was going to make it the friendliest farm in the country. She ensured that everyone felt welcome as they entered her vast yard.

She just loved the company and never cared who came. All who entered just chuckled at the honking goose trying to greet them. Each week brought someone new to the many products the farmer sold. She would try to talk to the farmer, his wife, and his son, but they seemed too busy for Brunhilda on a regular day. She loved feeding time along with the ducks, who mainly did not care about the humans.

It was a great place to be, and I had to tell that to those who entered the farm. Some just ignored Brunhilda's honking, but she never took it personally. She knew the farmer was just laughing at her in her silliness. Many came just to see her and have a conversation.

One day Brunhilda asked God for a favor. She has always wanted humans to understand her. So, God just chuckled at the silly goose and granted her wish for one day. Brunhilda was so excited and started thinking of everything she would say to the next human. She ran around the yard telling all the other animals. The cows just said, "why do you want to talk to humans?" The sheep sounded the same, never understanding why she liked the humans. The cats were happy since if they had that wish, they would be adopted by a nice person. The ducks just laughed since they just liked to swim in the water. She tried to tell the farmer, but he could not understand her.

Finally, the day came, and Brunhilda woke up excited to be able to speak to humans in their language. They were getting ready for another person to pick up their products. Brunhilda was prepared to talk when a car arrived. A lady in flannel and slacks came out to pick up her box. She was asked to sit till the last of the product was in the box. She sat on a log in the yard, just looking at the tracks of land.

Brunhilda, with feathers all in place, waddled up to the lady. She opened her beak, "Hi, my name is Brunhilda; I am the head of the welcoming committee on Bradbury farm." " I welcome you to this wonderful place." The woman just looked at the goose with a funny look. "Hi, Brunhilda," the woman said. "Well, I came here when I was gosling, my mother was Wadda, and my father was Goosetaf." "I was one many goslings, and the previous farmer was ready to get rid of some." "So, this farmer took me in and raised me." "I like them, but they are too busy most of the time with helping nice people like you" The woman smiled but looked confused.

The woman said, "my name is Sharon, and all you have said is very interesting." Brunhilda was smiling inside. "I am so glad you want to be my friend. Most of the time, humans just laugh, but God gave me one day for someone to understand me." "You can also tell the farmer the food tends to be a little late in the day." "I am famished before that." Said, Brunhilda. "I will let him know," the woman said, shaking her head.

"You know we can go on a goosestep on a gander in the yard, it is no wild goose chase, or can it run afoul," stated Brunhilda. The lady just giggled and said, "I would like that." They walked around the yard while Brunhilda showed the different parts of the farm." Here are where I live, the ducks; that is my friend, Chester," said Brunhilda. "For the cats, they are everywhere," stated Brunhilda. "If they have a pig, it goes in this stall while the cows are in this one," Brunhilda continued. "The sheep are over there but do not like guests," continued Brunhilda.

The farmer came out with a box but could not find his guest or that silly goose. He finally saw them further down the farm and gave the box to the lady. Brunhilda was mad and said, "Why do you have to go?" The farmer was taken aback and walked away, thinking he was crazy. The lady smiled at Brunhilda and said, "I have had a great time, but now it is time for me to go." "I liked meeting you, Brunhilda," the lady continued.

Brunhilda was having a great time, but they all ended up leaving. She unruffled her feathers and looked for another guest to entertain for today. It was so lovely to have someone truly understand her, but now she saw a man coming out of his car in his ball cap. He kept looking at his phone and barely paid attention to her. Finally, he went to sit on the chair on the porch as she started talking. He temporarily looked up and was confused. "Hi, I'm Brunhilda," the silly goose stated. He just looked at her and then went back to his phone. The farmer brought out the box of the product. He picked it up and then left, wondering what had happened.

She felt the warm sun on her feathers as she waddled aimlessly around the yard. The hope of another visitor was a welcome thought, and she loved new guests to her yard. After a few hours and after her feeding, she was ready for a nice nap. Suddenly a blue car pulled up and parked. She straightened her feathers and would forgo the rest for now. A woman opened the back door of the vehicle. A more miniature human with long hair and a ponytail came out. The little girl's eyes were gleaming to see the many animals.

The contagious laughter entered the yard and stared at the goose. The curiosity of children has been coveted by so many. Brunhilda opened her beak to talk. The little girl came over and hugged the goose, and laughed. Brunhilda just laughed back. She had found a friend just as curious as she was. Brunhilda said, "my name is Brunhilda, and I am the head of the welcoming committee at Bradbury farm." "What does that mean?" the little girl asked. "I welcome all guests to the yard," replied Brunhilda.

"What is your name?" Brunhilda requested. "I am Addy Warmuck," the little girl answered back. Both were smaller, so looking into the child's eyes was easier.

"Okay, Addy, do you want to see the farm, including the other animals?" Brunhilda leads the little girl around the yard. "I love the animals; they are so much fun," the young child chanted and started singing, "Old McDonald had a farm." she arrived at the verse," on the farm, he had a goose, eieio." Both laughed and fell to the ground. "Addy, where are you?" Addy's mother called. The little girl smiled, "I guess I have to go now, but I like you, silly goose."

The little girl ran off to meet her mother. "Mom, the goose was talking to me, and I saw all the animals," the little girl explained. Her mother hugged her and said, "Is that a talking goose after all." She put the box into the car then the little girl left just as she came. The evening was coming, and no one else came. It was a lovely sunny day with the smell of beautiful wildflowers in the air. Brunhilda was glad to find such amazing friends and talk with the humans for just one day.

On the soft hay, she dreamed of talking all the time, but her time was up, and darkness set in with the moon shining brightly in the sky. She thanked God for his gift and fell asleep with a smile on her beak.

The next day she was back to honking but never forgot the day she could talk. Years passed, and Brunhilda had trouble with her eyes. The guest became more challenging to see, but she still greeted the best she could. Her friend Chester, the duck, was willing to guide around the yard as Brunhilda became blind. Her eyes just quit working, but Chester was always there to lead the way. He helped her in her duties, and she would talk to the guests, and so many enjoyed the attention.

Seeing the seeing-eye duck was quite a site for anyone. The farmer could do his duties while Brunhilda entertained. Then, one night she remembered when she could talk and wished it would happen again. God answered," One day, you will speak again, and it will never end."

Brunhilda fell asleep on her hay bed but woke up in heaven. She opened her eyes, and she could see. The excitement was too much to bear. She saw the streets of gold and God himself on the throne. Words came out of her mouth without hesitation. "Thank you, God, for this, and I am so glad to be here," Brunhilda spoke. He simply laughed and stated," I have an essential job for you. Would you be my head of the welcome committee in heaven?" She smiled and, flapping her wings, exclaimed, "I love greeting everyone on the farm and gladly do it in heaven." She was sent to the gates, where each new soul greeted her with gratitude. She was delighted with this job too.

The farmer was sad not to have his best greeter, but the many cats had to do her job. The lady who had the tour with Brunhilda came back and asked about seeing the goose. The farmer replied," she is the head of the greeting committee in heaven." The woman smiled and looked up, hopefully talking to her someday too.

The farm was never the same after that, so many came to love a silly, talking goose named Brunhilda, the head of the welcoming committee of Bradbury farm.