Many different things happen in autumn. Nature is getting ready for winter, and animals have to get ready aswell. Some get ready for winter sleep, others gather and store food, and some birds fly to warmer countries for the winter.
Geese, for example. But moving away isn’t always easy. All it takes is one selfish member of the flock, and trouble is sure to follow. A goose named Mary learned this lesson firsthand.
Mary was the leader of the entire flock. She had to make sure everyone stayed safe, that no one got lost, and that all the young geese flew safely to where they were supposed to go. One day, as the flock was preparing for its long journey south, they started counting. They quickly realized someone was missing. Not everyone was ready.
Mary was just about to deal with the situation, already worried that they would not leave on time, when the last goose finally arrived.
“Hilda!” Mary scolded. “You’re late again! Where have you been? We have to leave in a minute. We can’t afford any delays. Winter is just around the corner.”
“I’m sorry, I lost track of time,” Hilda the goose apologized.
Mary was already anxious about keeping everything on schedule, so she simply turned to the flock and said, “Geese, take your positions. We’ll fly together in the sky so the wind can help us and we won’t get tired so quickly. Let’s go!”
The whole flock took off together. They formed a beautiful arrow shape and beat their wings in perfect rhytm. It was a joy to watch.
Before long, however, Hilda spoke up again. She didn’t like that she was at the very back. She started complaining.
“Mary, why do I have to fly at the back?!” she called out.
Mary didn’t hear her, so Hilda pushed her way to the front:
“Me, in last place? I’m the fastest and strongest goose here. Why should I be stuck at the back?” she complained as she tried to pass the others.
The geese grew annoyed.
“Hey, don’t push ahead!” they called. “Why aren’t you in your place? ‘None of us cuts in line. That’s not how we do things.”
But Hilda paid no attention to them and flew on.
But as she moved forward like that, the wind shifted among the geese’s wings and flung her to the other side. They were flying at a great height and speed, so Hilda bruised her wing in the gust of wind. The pain shot all the way to the tips of her feathers, and Hilda began to slowly lose speed and soon started falling.
When the other geese saw what had happened, they rushed to help her. Together they managed to save her and bravely carried her for the rest of the journey. They took turns, changing formations and speed as needed. It wasn’t easy to carry Hilda all the way south. Still, her friends didn’t give up. After all, that’s what friends do.
When they finally reached the warm southern lands, Hilda’s wing took a long time to heal. Still she was happy to be safe and warm and that everything had turned out well.
From that day on, she never argued about her position in the flock again. Although she still believed she had the most strength and speed, she decided she didn’t have to use them only in the front row. She could be important in the back, too.
More importantly, her friends had shown her that the strength of a united flock is far greater than the strength of any one goose. They had carried her when she needed help and never left her behind.
