The Nude Goose © by Michelle Teacress
Honk had never seen anyplace other than the icy north, and
that’s a fact.
“Skagit, Skagit, Skagit,” the flock squawked. “It’s time to
go to Skagit!”
“Skagit?” said Honk.
Lump, the know it all, waddled over. “They have cows and
tulips,” he said.
Cows and tulips were definitely worth the long flight south.
However, there was something strange about Skagit, something odd about the
locals.
Honk ventured up the street to check out the neighborhood
and noticed it. There, on the porch of a Skagit County resident, was a gander.
Nothing odd there - except for the hat and apron. [A lawn ornament – a goose
for which people collect multiple outfits]
Perched on the gander’s head was a chef’s hat. Garnished
across the front of the apron was a giant hamburger, and that’s a fact. “How
appalling! Who in his right mind would wear that?” said Honk.
Later, he spotted another working in a garden – this time,
in plain overalls. [A lawn ornament] “That’s not as strange as the first one,”
Honk mumbled, “A goose could get used to it, I guess.”
Then he saw her – opulent orange feet, lovely lashes,
stunning smile. [A lawn ornament] “Oh! The bumble bee is my favorite,” Honk
sighed.
Honk was full of questions, and couldn’t sleep.
“You have something on your mind,” Lump said.
“No, no. It’s nothing.” But it was something, and that’s a
fact.
Where
do they get it?
I can’t sew like
Great-Uncle Stitch.
I can’t
steal, like Cousin Swindle.
He had to ask.
Early the next morning, Honk tiptoed through the flock, back
into the neighborhood. “Excuse me,” he asked the bumblebee. “I was wondering
where you got your lovely outfit.” She was still smiling, but didn’t say a
thing. “I said,” Honk squawked louder, “I want some clothes! Could you…”
The door opened wide. Out popped a woman, a baby, and a cat.
“Can I help you?” the woman said.
“She won’t tell me
where I can get some clothes,” Honk huffed.
“I know what you need,” she replied.
She left. The cat stared. The baby honked. Honk waited.
The woman returned with several colorful outfits. Honk was
in goose heaven as he slipped his feathers into a plump pumpkin costume, but
then… [Honk sees Lump peeking from behind the bushes and yells at him]
“No, wait!” [The woman thinks Honk is complaining about the
pumpkin costume]
“You don’t like that one?” said the woman. “Let’s try
another.” When she pulled out the vest and tie, Honk couldn’t help himself but…
“I can’t breathe in this thing,” he wheezed.
“Not that one either?” The woman put a finger to her chin.
She studied Honk. “Maybe this is more your style.” [She holds up a frilly dress
with a matching bonnet]
Quite suddenly, Honk completely changed his mind. He flapped
back to the flock, as fast as his webbed feet could waddle.
“It’s getting colder,” called the woman. “You don’t want to
run around naked!”
Honk wouldn’t hear it. “I already have an outfit I like most
of all,” he shouted…
Read another picture book by Michelle Teacress HERE.
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