The day was cooler than it had been, of late. September had arrived and while the days had continued to be warm by late afternoon, the mornings and the evenings were much cooler. This particular day had remained pleasant all day, with a slight breeze blowing, it felt as if autumn had arrived.
Young Cameron was enjoying the day, school was back in session, but it was Labor Day and he was enjoying the extra day off. It had been a great couple of weeks just starting the fifth grade at Murray Intermediate School. He was also very excited that the fair was in town, his favorite ride was the Scrambler. Cameron’s Father had promised to take him to the fair but didn’t like to ride the Scrambler, he hoped that he could talk him into it. He liked it when he laughed.
Cameron was outside playing in the yard with his dog, Aery. Aery, a mixed breed of mostly German Shepherd. The dog was very smart and Cameron named her Aery because she was very aerodynamic and loved to jump. Aery loved to play catch, as well, it didn’t matter with what. A stick, a ball or a can, the dog didn’t mind.
“Cameron !” His Father yelled toward the yard from the front porch.
“I’m out back” Cameron yelled back, Aery’s ears perked.
“I am running some errands and have to go to the Hardware Store, do you want to go, or stay home?” He asked.
“Home” Cameron answered throwing the ball as far as he could and watching it fall beyond the fence line, a fence that Aery could easily maneuver over with a high jump.
“Okay, be back later, play safe”. His Father yelled as he started toward his old red Ford Pickup truck.
Cameron and Aery continued to throw the ball for a few minutes until the dog seemed to lose interest.
“I’m going to go inside for a little while girl, you wanna go inside with me?” Cameron asked the dog as if he expected her to answer.
Aery plopped down in the cool grass. Panting.
“I will take that as a ‘no’. “ Cameron said scratching the dog on his back.
Cameron headed for the house, hoping that some lemonade was left from the batch that his Dad had made after they had gotten out
of Church the day before. He was in luck, he poured a tall glass of lemonade over ice cubes, listening to them crackle as the liquid made contact with the ice.
As Cameron sipped on the cold drink, he knew that it didn’t taste as good as his Mother used to make, but he knew that in a small way, it was an attempt by his Dad to keep things normal in his life. Cameron kicked his shoes off and grabbed the book that he had recently checked out of the local library. He had read it once before and really liked it. Charlotte’s Web, a story of the remarkable friendship of a pig and a spider and the spider’s quest to save the pig from being slaughtered. As he sat down and settled into the comfortable cushions of the couch, he opened the book and began to read.
“Fern was up at daylight, trying to rid the world of injustice. As a result, she now has a pig. A small one to be sure, but nevertheless a pig. It just shows what can happen if a person gets out of bed promptly.”
Cameron stopped reading when he heard a faint whimper coming from the back door. He didn’t bother putting his shoes on as he went to see what Aery was wanting.
“You decide that you wanted to come in girl?” He asked as he opened the back door.
Aery did not turn to face Cameron, but instead whimpered quietly, facing the large back yard.
As Cameron looked out into the yard, his eyes focused on a fairly large goose. Cameron ran back into the house and slid on his shoes, not bothering to tie them and started toward the goose. Aery, not being too sure of the goose stayed on the porch and observed.
Cameron walked up to the goose and spoke softly to him. “Hello goose, what brings you to my neck of the woods ? “
The goose looked up at the boy, facing him and just stared for a moment. Cameron smiled at the goose and continued to ask him questions, that the goose, of course didn’t answer.
After a moment or two, Cameron decided to walk back to the house for a piece of bread for the goose, as he did the goose followed suit, matching the young boy step for step. Cameron decided to walk in circles, so did the goose. Once when they stopped, the goose grabbed at the untied laces of the boy’s shoes, prompting Cameron to tie them. Within seconds the goose reached over and untied them. Cameron laughed when the goose untied his shoe, causing the goose to let out a loud “Honk”.
By this time, Aery had decided to move closer to the goose but stayed behind Cameron, peering through his legs at the wild animal. The goose reached his long neck toward the dog and grabbed a bit of fur and gave a tug. Aery retreated back to the safety of the porch after producing a loud “Yelp”.
Cameron had recently studied about wild geese in school and new that they traveled in groups, flying in formation. He wondered where the other geese were.
The goose and the boy walked around in the yard. As the two walked they came upon Aery’s ball. The goose nudged it with its beak, rolling the ball about, on the ground. Cameron was amazed.
Then, as quickly as the goose had appeared, it decided to leave. The goose flew off, over the fence line toward a small pond that is on the property. Cameron likes to try and catch fish in the small pond, but has never been very successful. The pond is just out of sight of the house but the boy was sure that that was where the goose had gone.
Cameron made his way back to Aery, who had moved safely back on to the porch.
“Hey girl, I don’t know why you have to act so ‘chicken’ of such a friendly goose.” He said patting the dog on her head.
As he started to go back into the house, Aery whimpered again as she perked her ears up and looked off of the porch.
“What now?” The boy thought to himself.
As the boy looked over the railing, he saw two ducks and a rooster.
He walked out to greet these visitors, Aery still unsure, walked with the boy, still staying safely behind Cameron.
As soon as the three visitors saw the young boy approach, the two ducks stood wing to wing, facing Cameron, and at once the rooster jumped up onto their backs, creating a pyramid and began to crow, “cock-a-doodle-do.”
Cameron at once, began to clap, showing his approval.
At that, the rooster flapped his wings once more, taking flight and softly landed on Cameron’s head. Cameron stood very still and then heard the familiar “cock-a-doodle-do.”
Aery barked and the rooster flew back down beside the ducks and in a single line formation, the three animals marched away from the house, on the pathway toward the small pond.
Cameron decided to go get some bread and make his way to the pond. While in the house, his Father returned home. He told him of his adventure with the animals. As he talked, his Father noticed his book that he had been reading, one which he had loved as well, as a young man.
“Sounds like someone has a big imagination, this story sounds a little ‘Fowl’ to me.” He said holding his fingers up using quotation signs when he said ‘Fowl’ and laughing.
Cameron loved to hear his Dad laugh.
“I promise Dad, it happened.”
“Okay, go change your shirt, if we don’t leave for the fair now, we won’t get there in time to see some of the shows.” He hurried him out of the room.
“Shows.” Cameron thought to himself. “I don’t want to see shows, I want to ride the rides, especially the Scrambler.”
Cameron changed his shirt and within minutes, Father and Son were on their way to the fair. On the way, Cameron continued his story of the goose, the two ducks and the rooster. His Dad laughed numerous times.
Once at the fair, they both walked the Midway as game attendants called for them to win a prize. Cameron’s Dad paid a dollar for a basket of ping-pong balls as they both tossed them toward the awaiting fishbowls that held the unknowing fish.
“Zip” Dad laughed producing another dollar for the game attendant.
Finally on the last toss a ping-pong ball landed into the intended target. They both laughed as the attendant passed the live prize into Cameron’s open hands. A small amount of water splashed out of the bowl in his excitement.
As they continued passing each colorful booth, they came upon one of the shows, No Joe’s Circus Emporium. The sign said that the show would start in thirty minutes.
“That is just enough time to ride the Scrambler and then get Cotton Candy.” Cameron smiled at his Dad.
“Okay, let’s do this!” He said as they headed for the ride that Cameron loved so much.
Cameron laughed. His Father laughed as they spun around, barely able to stay in the seat. When the ride was over, they bought some Cotton Candy and walked back to No Joe’s Circus Emporium. As they approached, a new signed was taped over the original, with painted on letters that read, “ Show canceled, we are missing the stars of the show, our beloved goose Henrietta, Roscoe and James (our ducks) and our death defying rooster, Hamlet. Show canceled indefinitely!”
Cameron’s Father looked down at the boy, speechless.
“Dad, we have to find Mr. No Joe, I know where his animals are.”
Without a word Cameron and his Dad pushed through the flaps of the big tent and began to search for Mr. No Joe. As they made their way toward the back they found no one, only a note that said, “We are out searching for our beloved animals, we hope to find them soon.”
Cameron’s Dad quickly scratched a note to Mr. No Joe. “I think we know where your beloved animals are. Please come by 5547 Brook Way.”
They quickly drove back to the house, sloshing water from the fishbowl as they made their way home on the curvy road, to look for the lost animals. As the car approached the house, both Father and Son were shocked at the sight that was before them, standing in the yard was Aery, facing the large goose. On each side of the dog was a duck and perched proudly upon the dog was the rooster. Cameron and his Dad sneaked around the side of the house to get a better look as they heard the rooster crow, “cock-a-doodle-do.”
As they stood watching the animal show, another car approached. It was a very small car, but to their amazement six clowns stepped out of the car. Each one had a bright red nose, some had blue hair and some had red hair, some were rather plump and short and some were tall and skinny. A plump short one approached them first.
“Hello, I am Joe from No Joe’s Emporium, did you leave this note?” He asked with hope in his voice as he held it out toward Cameron and his Father.
“We did.” They answered in unison. They motioned for Joe the clown to look around the house at the animal show that was being performed.
“Hamlet!” Joe cried. At once the rooster took flight and landed upon the clowns head and crowed, “cock-a-doodle-do.”
Another clown appeared and cried, “Henrietta!” At once, the goose made her way to the tall, skinny clown.
“Roscoe and James!” Two other clowns cried, one tall and one short, and the two ducks immediately stood before them.
“Aery!” Cameron cried, and the dog joined the large crowd, causing everyone to laugh.
“Thank you for finding our beloved animals, we were so very worried for them.” Mr. Joe said as the other five clowns, two ducks, one rooster and the goose climbed into the small car.
“Please come back to the fair and be our guests at the Emporium, we will start in just a few minutes, and please bring Aery, for she can be our very special guest star.” The clown smiled, handing tickets to the boy.
Mr. Joe smiled again and motioned to the fishbowl that Cameron was still holding. “You can bring your fish as well, but you might want to add a little more water to his bowl.”
A few minutes later, Cameron and his Father were back at the fair. They were greeted by Joe the Clown and given honorary red noses to wear, which they did. Aery was given a pink tutu to wear and had no problem being a part of the show for the night. As a tall clown held a hoop high, in the air, Aery gladly hopped through, to the other side, and received a round of applause from the audience. The animals all performed flawlessly. The finale involved the clowns asking Aery to stand very still. A tall clown place Roscoe on Aery’s back, while a short clown placed James on Aery’s back, also. Then slowly, another clown picked up Henrietta and placed her on the backs of the two ducks, one webbed foot on each duck. A hushed quiet fell over the crowd as Joe walked over with Hamlet close behind. At once, Hamlet took flight and landed on top of the goose, “cock-a-doodle-do.”
The audience erupted with applause at the feat.
Cameron and his Father both laughed…