Saturday, September 17, 2011

Review of My Goose Egg Story


Oscar’s Egg Rescue
By: Frankie Furter Price
April 2009
Oscar and his family live in the country. He can run and play in his yard, but is never supposed to go to the thicket without his people because other animals make that area their home. Oscar’s people don’t want him to frighten them away.
One day Oscar was digging a delightful new hole when he caught a strange scent in the air. He knew he shouldn’t leave the yard but he couldn’t resist the urge to follow his nose.
He was very careful about where he walked. He made his way into the thicket and down to the edge of the brook. Normally Oscar would be running and splashing in the tummy deep water. Not this time. He was looking for whatever was making that strange smell.
It didn’t take long for his mighty dachshund nose to find the source. Lying right out in the open was the largest egg he had ever seen. Oscar moved closer and was shocked to detect the egg’s warmth. All the eggs that he had ever been around had come out of the refrigerator and were quite cold.
Oscar could sense fear in the air. He took several steps back. That was when he saw the largest bird he could imagine. He knew it was a bird but it wasn’t doing any of the things birds normally do. It was sitting down. It wasn’t moving a muscle. The poor thing was looking right into Oscar’s eyes and it was terrified.
It took several minutes for Oscar to think the situation through. He finally realized that what he was seeing was a mother goose whose egg had rolled away from her nest. She was truly frightened, but not for herself. She was afraid for her egg. Oscar gradually came to realize that the egg was warm because it had been in its nest until he had startled its mother. She must have moved just enough to cause the egg to roll away. Oscar recognized the situation and took responsibility for it. This was his blunder and he had to do something to fix the situation.
Oscar didn’t know anything about hatching eggs, but he did remember how his own mother had taken care of him when he was a pup. She would curl up around him and his brothers and sisters and keep them warm.
Oscar slowly moved toward the egg then lay down and curled around it as he remembered his mother doing. He would keep the egg warm and safe until he could return it to the nest.
Oscar’s people didn’t see him and began calling. They called and called but Oscar didn’t move. The miserable mother goose didn’t move either. Oscar needed for her to fly away so that he could return the egg to its nest. He hoped that his people would come looking for him and that they would cause the goose to fly.
He hated not answering his people’s calls and whistles. Oscar knew they would be worried about him. Their calls were getting louder. That meant that they were getting closer. His heart was beating very fast. He watched the mother goose. She was beginning to stir.
Oscar’s frustrated people were getting closer. One of them suddenly clapped their hands very loud. That startled the goose enough to cause her to fly.
Oscar didn’t waste a second, he got up and began pushing the egg with his nose. He didn’t have far to go, but needed to work carefully. He had seen how easily an egg could be broken and ruined. Oscar saw that there were two other eggs in the nest. He only needed one more push to make it three once more. He gave it his best effort. That was all that was needed.
Oscar jumped away from the nest and ran as fast as he could toward the sound of his people’s voices. He wanted to look back to be sure the egg had not rolled away again, but felt that he had to get as far away as possible so that the mother would return to her nest.
Oscar’s people were so relieved to see him that they didn’t notice the goose as it flew to her nest. Oscar saw it though, and he was thrilled.
Oscar thought of the goose and her eggs every day. He wondered how they were doing. He resisted the urge to go to the thicket and check on them. What he did instead, was spend almost every day sitting on top of the hill that overlooked the area. He watched and he hoped that his efforts had been enough.
After days and days of keeping his vigil Oscar finally gave up. He went back to his long abandoned hole and began digging once again. Oscar made some progress, he was finally down far enough to be in damp earth making his frantic clawing easier, when he was startled by loud wing beats. He dropped to the bottom of the hole just as a large goose and three smaller ones flew directly over him. As they began to climb higher in the sky he could have sworn that their honking sounded as though they were calling his name.

This is a work of fiction based on a real life experience. In the spring of 2008 the author did find a goose on her nest. She had actually lost one of her eggs. The author scampered back to his people and led them to the sad scene. He was quite interested in the unfortunate egg but did not go close to it. The author watched as his people quickly took a couple of pictures then left the nesting area undisturbed.
The actual event took place along the shore of Burr Oak Lake. The author’s people had beached his pontoon boat so they could fish, while he enjoyed some, on shore, exploration. Beach combing is one way the author relaxes when he isn’t writing.
When the sculptor, Mr. Alan Cottrill, chose his goose for the author to base a story around, it seemed natural to meld a bit of reality with a touch of fiction. As with the text, some of the photos are authentic and some show the author in a staged setting.
To learn more about the author visit his blog at:
Frankiefurterprice.blogspot.com
To learn more about the sculptor visit his website at:
www.alancottrill.com
Now WHY would I have Posted this, you ask??? WELL, TODAY is the last day to get entered into ROO's Newest Pet Fiction Theater Auditions!! Since I was in a play once... AND HAVE ENTERED THE AUDITION fur PFT... I wanted to get you Fired UP and gettin your Tail in gear. I just KNOW that you want to be in Roo's Play!! Better do it QUICK QUICK QUICK... TODAY IS THE DEADLINE!!

21 comments:

Finn said...

Oooo - a goose egg! We had a lot of fun trying to stand still enough to take pictures for the audition! SHould be fun!

Ms. ~K said...

What an incredible story...we were sitting on the edge of our seats as our Rama read it to us...

Excellent!!!

Alasandra, The Cats and Dogs said...

This was a terrific story with a very happy ending. Good job Frankie, we will check out the audition thing. ~AFSS

The Daily Pip said...

Gosh, I have been away from blogville all week ...thought I would take quick peak and see what everyone is up to and I am so glad I did. This was a most excellent story. I was completely caught up in the action and sitting on the edge of my seat ...and then to discover that it was based on a real life experience. WOW!

Thanks for the treat!

Your pal, Pip

Anonymous said...

That was quite the story Frankie! Gave me 'goose bumps' tee hee hee (get it goose egg = goose bumps) BOL! Oh dear I think I'm loosin it ;) Fun story :D Thanks for sharing it! :D

Thanks for the press dear furiend :)
To all you pets out there that would like to help scare your furiends (and possibly yourself ;) in the treasure hunt, do send in your photos. Many already have. Just don't want anyone to get left out that wants to be in the show :D
Go to www(dot)petfictiontheater(dot)com for all the details.

Waggin at ya,
Director/Producer Roo

Pat Wahler said...

What a sweet story! I think it could be made into a perfect play!

Pat
www.critteralley.blogspot.com

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

That is such a great story! We really enjoyed it.

Happy weekend, Frankie.

Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

Berts Blog said...

What a great book with illistrations that would be.

A Mayor, an author, a just plain great dog

Bert

SASS....Sammy Andy Shelly Sierra said...

What a beautiful story!!!!!!!!!!

xxxxxxxxxxx

houndstooth said...

That's a great story, Frankie! I love a happy ending!

Bunny

Oskar said...

I will have to check it out!

Nubbin wiggles,
Oskar

animal lover, quilt lover said...

That is a great story Frankie!! We loved it so much and it was today that Tinker got out of the fence and came to me when I called her, from a very heavy thicket!!!!! Tinker could have had your story today!!!
xx Tinker & Fern

STELLA and RORY from Down Under said...

Hi Mr Frankie, that was a heaps good story. We always like happy endings. Boy oh boy blogville sure is a busy place. No worries, and love, Stella and Rory. P.S. The poles/posts are part of a vineyard and yes there are probably 87,000 of them. The sheep keep the grass down over winter. xx

Scruffy, Lacie and Stanley's Place said...

Oh Frankie...(Lacie wipes a tear from her eye....)...that was the most marvelous story!! When I get Scruffy and Stan into their flannel jamies tonight, I shall certainly read it to them...it was wonderful...gave me shivers!!

I actually came here to say yes to your proposal of marriage...well, um...actually not yes...but to acknowledge that you asked me...(well,actually you didn't, but that's a moot point) I had commented to Asta on her post regarding her declining her position as Agony Auntie (that sounds suspiciously British...advice columist is far less dramatic...) and had mentioned the possibility of you taking a third wife...not that I'd ever share but whatever. (Lacie makes little to no sense most times, just ignore her...)

Anyway, I have no idea why we thought you lived in MASTER CHEW SITS by Mango...you musn't be far from the Burgh? Are you a Steeler fan??? BROWNS FAN?

Kisses,

Miss Lacie Teacakes

Jan Mader said...

Loved the story! You should visit my blog for people who like to write...published or unpublished...
ignitetowrite.blogspot.com

Angels Amber and Max DaWeenie and Mom said...

Awww, Fwankie....{sniff, sniff} Mee wuved your storee....{sniff} Specially cause dere was such a happee ending! {sniff}

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

That was a wonderful story Franike!! Thank you so much for sharing it with us!!

Smileys!
Dory, Jakey and Bilbo

WFT Nobby said...

What a fascinating story. Thanks for tell us all about it Frankie.
In my experience geese are VERY scary - they are noisy and can flap their wings in a most threatening way, so I steer well clear of any we meet when we are out walking.
Toodle pip!
Bertie.

Anonymous said...

Great story Frankie.

As Lucy a theif, we have decided she should NOT run for Mayor of Blogville until she mend her ways....

Have a lovely Sunday

Hector

Sagira said...

What a cool story!

Jed and Abby in MerryLand said...

Oh, Mr. Justice Frankie Furter, what a beautiful story! It would make a terrific illustrated children's book. Bet Jack could help you get it published.

Jed & Abby