For several days the geese had been acting strange. Now I been herding these geese, thirteen of them, around for several years, so I know strange when I see strange. Their living quarters consists of a wooden shed about 10 feet wide by 14 feet long. This has a big door on the west side that I go in to fill the feeder and such. On the south side down low is a small door about 12 inches wide and 20 inches high that leads to a wire enclosure that is the same size as their house and is covered and has a big door that they enter and exit from. When it is just dark I go out with my flashlight and they all go into the wire part. I close that door and secure it and they are snug and tight for the night. They can go into the house or sleep out in the wire part. Every night this happens like clock work. In the morning I open the wire door and they all come running out and over to the water tank which serves as their pond. Not so the last few days.
They began by being afraid to go in the enclosure. When I got them herded inside they would cower in the corner. The first night I actually went into the goose house to see if perhaps Brer' Fox was lurking their. Nothing amiss. The next morning they did not rush out as usual, so I just latched the door open and in due time they ventured forth. Same scenario that evening and the next morning. I was beginning to be concerned and checked everything I could think of to make sure nothing was able to get near enough to frighten them. It was a mystery and it really upset me to see them act like they were terrified. Yesterday was the clincher.
I opened the wire door and no goose came out of the goose house. I could see them in their milling about so I went and opened the big door. They cowered in the corner and my eyes finally spotted the "intruder". Yes! That is it. A piece of blue plastic cord that fell off of a tarp! That was blocking the door! I remembered it laying on the ground in the wire enclosure.
It sure seemed harmless enough to me, but then, I am not a goose. Did they think it was a snake? I am a thinking I would have been getting the hell out of there if I were them. Geese have the herd mentality and I do not know how they communicate, but they were all 13 of them scared to death of this piece of cord. After I took pictures of the offending item, I dropped it into the burning barrel. I think the geese now look on me as some sort of hero because they gather at the fence around the yard and stare at me. And then they take thier naps. So I take my cue from them and dose in my chair knowing that once more all is right in my world!
This is the novel I have for sale . Do not be confused by the title. Chapter One simply means this is my first book. There may never be another, or there may be many more. I am very proud of this endeavor and guarantee you will enjoy the book in it's enirety. Lou Mercer
