A Young Gander's Tale

A Young Gander's Tale 

Ivor had given up. 

He was young, strong and quite handsome. When he saw his reflection in the water - and as often as possible - he stretched his beautiful long neck, puffed out his chest, fluffed out his stylishly folded wings and stood tall! He just knew a goose as beautiful as he was handsome would cluck to him in no time at all. He had flown beside several lovely geese on their way to their nesting grounds.

Born on this wide, blue lake, he had only been a fluffy yellow gosling then. He had become strong and handsome. The flight back from the south was long, but he loved every minute flying up in the clouds, through rain or in the sun. He had even been asked to fly close to the head of the V and knew it was because he was soared so expertly. He didn’t veer off course like some of his friends did. He kept to the formation set by the stern old gander. But now he was on the ground watching everyone pair off. Ganders and geese. Old couples and newly mated couples. He had been paying so much attention to his own handsome self that he had missed many a flirtation from the charming geese his own age. Finally, his eye fell on an older goose - not that much older - swimming by herself. She was elegant! Exactly suited to his reflection in still waters. They would have many, many beautiful chicks. All equally handsome and smart!! He swam past the graceful goose slowly, making sure he was noticed. Just a gentle little gander hello ~ wait a minute and swim back the other way. Soon she was calling him to come over. They stretched their necks to each other in a courtship dance. Suddenly, in a crashing splash, a magnificent gander broke up the couple. His wings beat the water, he hissed viciously and chased him away. Poor Ivor! Alone again. Chased away again. After so many unsuccessful attempts to find the perfect mate, he just gave up. There would be no more second, third or fourth chances for him. He might as well just go to shore, stick his head under his wing and go to sleep. 

He had barely settled when he heard another call his name. "Ivor?" He raised his head cautiously, looked all around. No other ganders in sight. "Lucy?" She had been his most frequent flying companion. Nice enough looking in the air, but here on the ground! Wow!

And they lived happily ever after with many, many goslings in tow.

“Sometimes when we least expect it, love gives us a second chance.”

~ Jacqueline Simon Gunn, The Cat Who Ate His Tail