Jillian Chantal

This week, the writers of Tuesday Tales are writing to the word prompt cup. I am still in my geese story.

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When she arrived home and entered via the back door, Brenda Sue’s dad looked up from peeling carrots. “Good grief, B., what happened to you?” He set the peeler and carrot on the cutting board and took a step toward her. “Did someone attack you on the way home?”

“No, Dad. I’m fine. Unless you count a group of six geese who decided I wasn’t feeding them quickly enough. One of them bit me and I fell. It’s nothing.”

“Your shin is dripping blood. Let me help wipe it off.” He wet a paper towel and nodded her to one of the chairs. “Sit.”

While he tended to her goose bite, Brenda Sue watched and thought about hearing those geese talking. “Hey, Dad, do you believe animals can understand us and vice versa?”

“If course. Dogs understand when their owners take out the leash for walks and things like that.”

“No. I mean like regular conversations.”

“To some extent, sure. But not to the extent of quantum physics.”

“Goodness, even I don’t understand that.”

He laughed “Have you been trying to talk to animals? Or those geese you’re feeding?”

“Not really but I wonder what they understand when we speak. You know, why that one would bite me when all I was trying to do was give her food. I mean, I was being nice and she bit me.” No way am I going to mention Gladys and Madge actually speaking words. If they really did.

“Seems to me she should have realized that.” Her dad smirked. “Unless she thought you were doing it wrong. Could be a picky goose.”

He had no idea how close to the mark he was. “Ha. As if.”

“I’ve got to finish getting this roast in the oven. You want to help with the potatoes?”

“Sure. I need some water first. That geese feeding is thirsty work.”

Her dad patted her leg dry with the towel he had over his shoulder, stood and walked to the cabinet to grab a cup. Once he’d filled it with water from the Brita pitcher, he set it beside Brenda Sue. “Drink up. I’ll work on the gravy while you peel a few potatoes. We don’t need a lot. Just us three for dinner tonight. Your brother will be home from practice in an hour or so and your mom has plans for dinner with friends.”