Reginald Takes Flight

Joann and Reginald were feeling restless lately and Joann was unsure why. Perhaps it was Reggie getting bigger by the day. Maybe it was each day stretching before them, just the same as the day before. Joann thought maybe they were bouncing moods off each other, though she wasn’t quite sure the emotional range a goose could hold. She knew something was up though and each day they sat and waited for something for change.

Reginald truly was getting bigger and she often wondered if he wasn’t lonely for his family that was lost. She knew how much she missed her Earl, surely this little goose remembered his momma and siblings too.

She sighed, took a sip of her iced tea, and stood to go back inside. Oddly, Reginald did not follow her. Instead, he got up and waddled to the fence line that blocked her yard from the small pond behind her house. He ducked right underneath and headed for the pond.

At first Joann was slightly irritated. She was ready to get out of the sun, and here Reginald was heading to the water. He could be there for hours! She called to him, hoping to lure him back, but no luck. He simply kept waddling towards the water. When he reached it, he slipped in and headed for the middle. Joann huffed and sat herself down in the lawn chair to wait. She hated to leave him all alone, and sun wasn’t really that hot.

Meanwhile, Reginald was flapping his wings like mad, giving out short honks to the warm air. She watched his behavior, wondering what silliness he was up to now. He seemed intent on something, when all of the sudden he rose up high with a flap of his wings and looked as if he would walk on the water. Instead he honked hard and fell back with a splash.

Joann jumped up rom her seat and ran to the fence, gripping it in anticipation. Was Reginald about to take flight for the first time? She wished she had brought her camera! Reginald was flapping his wings, fast as he could, again. This is it! He’s really going to do it. He’s going to fly! She thought to herself. She was both nervous and excited. She hoped he could do it, what a life to be a goose that can’t fly! But what if he did and he flew away to try and find his family, leaving her all alone? Her heart squeezed tightly at the thought, but she pushed it aside for now. She would support her Reggie no matter what. After all, he belonged with his family, right?

Reginald flapped hard enough again to rise out of the water and began to run across the surface of the pond, attempting to gain enough momentum to get up and go. Joann held her breath, excitement winning out at last. Finally, Reginald was out of the water and seeming to glide just above the surface. He landed gracefully on the other side and immediately started flapping to take off again. Joann was hooping and cheering for Reginald, throwing her hands high, and clapping as hard as she could. She was so happy and excited for him she could hardly stand.

He continued his short glides across the pond’s surface until finally he swooped up past the far bank and gave a final honk before he gone over the trees. Joann waited for several minutes but saw no sign of Reginald’s return. Just as she was turning to go back inside, she heard a honk, and saw Reginald returning to do another graceful landing on the pond. He swam to the shore, ducked under the fence, and joined her at the door, honking at her expectantly.

“Oh Reginald! I’m so proud of you. Let’s go celebrate with a treat!”