The Legend of Willow's Flock: The Gentle Giant

The sun had risen quite high into the sky. It was about noon. The sky was blue with a few fluffy white clouds dotting its blueness. A decent portion of Willow's Flock was gathered around a white-flowered Crape myrtle. Despite it not being very big it had bloomed prolifically that year. This group consisted of three ganders: European Rowan, Ohio Buckeye, and Boxelder Maple. The majority of geese present around the young tree, however, were ladies. All five of the white geese were present. There was Japanese Zelkova, Hawaiian Hibiscus, Brazilian Rosewood, Nutmeg Hickory, and Green Ash.

​Most of the ladies were still undecided about which gander they wanted to be with. The youngest of the ladies liked Boxelder Maple because of his lean, tall self and dark stripe running down from his head along the back of his neck. Some liked European Rowan because of his decent size and knob. And his voice and proud personality. But even more admired Ohio Buckeye because of his gentleness. Though he was big he was rather low in the gander's pecking order because he was gentle and shy and never wanted to pick a fight with another gander. 

Because of this he had won some of the white geese to his side and Green Ash. Rowan often chased Buckeye in order to defend his ladies but eventually this would turn out to be a bad decision.

The wind started to gently rustle the leaves of the crape myrtle while the geese stood under it honking to one another. Buckeye had come over to one white goose named Southern Magnolia. She was regarded as one of the most beautiful geese - of all the gray and white geese alike. She was a shy goose but was rather nice. But because of her beauty Rowan was determined to keep her as one of his geese so he charged at Buckeye and made him run away. Magnolia was quite appalled by what Rowan did. 

Magnolia scolded Rowan for what he had done. "Rowan! That was very impolite of you. It is one thing to engage in such rude arguments with another gander but while he is talking quite politely to a lady? You know no manners," was what Magnolia first said. Rowan did not see what the problem was and responded rudely, "What? Why does it matter to you? I am your gander. I am defending you from him." "We are all part of the same flock. I think it is necessary for me to know every gander and goose of this flock," argued Magnolia. "I do not see why that is necessary. Because if you know every goose you might betray me for another gander," answered Rowan. "I will. If you were not so rude I would not," answered Magnolia.

After she finished speaking she walked away from Rowan who was surprised by her as he did not believe the last thing she had said to actually be true. Indeed it was true. From that day on she became Buckeye's goose because she admired his gentleness and how polite he was to every gander despite the good chance he had of being able to rule over them all because of his size.