Tickle Box

by BobA. Troutt

  *****

  Tickle Box

  Honk

  Honk, honk, honk sounded the geese as they circled around Emerald Lake. Yes, it was late summer and early fall at the lake as the geese flew in for the winter. Randy and his Granddad stood on the banks of the lake fishing as the flock of geese flew in.

  “Look Granddad!” shouted Randy as he pointed to the geese.

  “I see them,” answered his Granddad as he looked up at the sky.

  “I think they’re going to land,” cried Randy.

  “I believe you’re right, grandson and I’d say Honk is leading the way.”

  Honk, honk, honk went the gaggle of geese as they flew high in the deep, blue sky. Honk, honk, honk, they sounded when they landed on the water, flapping their wings.

  “Honk,” replied Randy with a slight giggle.

  “Oh, Randy, have I ever told you the story about Honk?” asked his Granddad.

  “No, you haven’t, Granddad,” he replied.

  “Well, let me tell you,” he laughed.

  Granddad loves to tell stories, Randy thought to himself.

  “When Honk was growing up,” said his Granddad, “he couldn’t honk like the other geese. That’s how he got his nickname, Honk. His real name is Gilbert Quackster. Gilbert was really something.”

  “Why couldn’t he honk?” questioned Randy.

  “Well, Randy,” replied his Granddad, “no one really knew at the time. Gilbert would try and try but all that would come out of his mouth was a little cushion of wind with a faint quack.”

  “Was that all?” asked Randy.

  “That’s it,” said his Granddad. “He had a little tickle in his throat that bothered him.”

  “What kind of tickle was it?” asked Randy.

  “Oh, it was kind of like the tickle you get in your throat when you have to cough,” explained his Granddad. “Gilbert’s dream was to one day lead the v-shaped formation and fly the other geese back and forth from north to south. The other geese wouldn’t have anything to do with him because he was different; he couldn’t honk. As Gilbert grew older and flew with the others, he flew alone. He tagged behind the formation and brought up the rear. The other geese laughed at Gilbert and made fun of him. They were a little too hard on him, at times, I would say. But, Gilbert was tough.”

  “Did anyone ever try to help him?” asked Randy.

  “Yes, they did,” explained his granddad. “Gilbert’s Dad and Mom tried. Burney and Bedillia took him to see Doc. Gander several times. Doc. Gander examined him, but all he could find was a little redness in Gilbert’s throat and that unexplainable tickle. All Doc. Gander ever said was that he would grow out of it. However, he did give him some awful tasting medicine for the tickle.”

  That tickle has something to do with his honk, thought Randy to himself. But what could it be!

  “Honk had one friend that stood by him,” his Granddad continued. “A friend all the way to the end; his name was Billy Ray. Gilbert and Billy Ray were friends all through the years. It didn’t matter to Billy Ray if Gilbert could honk or not. He liked and accepted Gilbert for who he was.”

  “Gee, Granddad, that’s great. Gilbert not only had a friend he could turn to but someone to help see him through.”

  “Yes, Randy,” he said. “Gilbert and Billy Ray, those youngsters, went through a lot as the years went by. There was even a time when Gilbert was going to run away but Billy Ray talked him out of it. He told him to stay and face his problems because running away was not the answer. Watch your line, Randy. I think you’re getting a bite,” cautioned his Granddad. “Every time the other geese came against Gilbert, Billy Ray was by his side. The geese would honk something fierce. But, Gilbert always stood firm and told them he might be different and couldn’t honk but he was still Gilbert. Watch it, son, he’s going to take your worm,” warned his Granddad.

  “I’m ready, Granddad,” whispered Randy.

  “Gilbert never backed down. He stood firm on what he believed. The other geese would laugh, honk at him and waddle away. Jerk it, Randy; pull it up. You got him, son. Bring him in,” cried his Granddad.

  “Look, Granddad,” cried Randy.

  “I see,” chuckled his Granddad. “It is a fine catch.”

  “Randy, the older Gilbert got, the less the others teased him. He still couldn’t honk, but it wasn’t as big of an issue as it was before. Gilbert always flew behind when he first started flying the in v-shaped formation, hoping one day to lead the flock. Then one day, Big Sam, the lead goose of the formation went to talk to Gilbert,” said his Granddad.

  “You are a strong bird, Gilbert, with strong, wide wings,” Big Sam said. “I would like to see you fly lead in the formation one day.”

  “You would, Big Sam,” replied Gilbert.

  “Yes, I would, Gilbert. It is such a waste not having you as part of the team. Besides, the formation looks bad with you lagging behind.”

  “Yes, sir, Big Sam!” shouted Gilbert.

  “Gilbert was something else wasn’t he, Granddad,” spoke Randy. “If that had been me, I probably would have given up and quit trying.”

  “Me, too,” replied his Granddad. “But you know, son, the important lesson is Gilbert never gave up.”

  “You’re right,” said Randy. “What happened next, Granddad?”

  “You wouldn’t believe it, Randy,” his Granddad replied. “One day a pack of wolves wandered around the lake as Billy Ray and some of the other geese swam around the cattails. When one of the wolves leaped out from behind the bushes to attack them, Gilbert flew out from behind the cattails, took a long, deep breath and tried to honk. But, instead of honking he coughed a feather out of his mouth. Scared for his friend and the other geese, he took another long, deep breath and belted out a strong honk, honk. It was his first time to honk. His honk saved the day. It warned Billy Ray and the others in the nick of time to get away from the hungry wolves. The geese immediately took flight. Their honking cries and the flapping of their wings echoed across the lake. They hurriedly scattered themselves across the lake, flew high into the sky to safety and regrouped into formation. The frightened wolves quickly disappeared into woods and never returned.”

  “Hooray!” yelled Randy. “That’s the way to go, Gilbert. You showed them.”

  Randy’s Granddad laughed and said, “I told you, Gilbert Quackster was something. Yes, Gilbert was a hero that day and from that time on,” rejoiced his Granddad. “The geese flew to the other side of the lake, gathered around Gilbert and thanked him for saving their lives.”

  “Thank you, Gilbert,” said Billy Ray. “I knew one day you would come through.”

  “Oh, it was nothing,” replied Gilbert.

  “Nothing,” spoke up Big Sam. “Oh, it was something alright,” he said. “You saved our lives and we are proud of you.”

  “Thank you, Big Sam,” Gilbert said.

  “You know, Gilbert, I have been watching you through the years. I’m getting too old to lead the formation and I’ve been thinking about falling back into formation. So, we’ll need a good lead goose.”

  “No, Big Sam!” yelled Gilbert. “You can’t quit!”

  “It is time for me to let it go, Gilbert, and I want you to lead the way.”

  “You want me to lead the geese from north to south,” smiled Gilbert with a little scared grin.

  “Yes, I do, Gilbert. I know you can do it; you’ve proven it today,” encouraged Big Sam; “right, gang.”

  “Hooray for Gilbert,” honked the other geese.

  Billy Ray eased over to him and whispered, “You can do it, Gilbert. I always knew you could and I’ll be flying beside you to your right.”

  “There was honking all around the lake that day. The geese’s wings flapped with joy as they circled high in the deep, blue sky. What a day it was,” said Randy’s Granddad.

  “But, Granddad, where did the feather come from and how did it get
lodged in Gilbert’s throat?”

  His Granddad sort of laughed to himself, grabbed his fishing pole and reeled it in.

  “Well, Randy, it’s still a mystery to this day. No one really knows where the feather came from. Some think it may have happened in Gilbert’s sleep when he was young. They think the feather got stuck in his throat when he was snoring. It was the feather that kept him from honking and at the same time it tickled his throat. Gilbert was so scared when he jumped out on those wolves he tried to honk as loud as he could and it caused the feather to break loose and fly out of his mouth.”

  “Wow, Granddad, that’s quite a story,” exclaimed Randy.

  “I’ll tell you one thing,” his Granddad chuckled. “That Gilbert Quackster was full of surprises.”

  “You know, Granddad,” replied Randy, “you never know it might be Gilbert Quackster leading the way when you look up in the sky, in the spring or fall, at the geese flying over and hear the honk, honk.”

  “That’s right, Randy,” laughed his Granddad.