Every autumn, a flock of geese prepared for their long journey south. And every year, they relied on one bird to guide them, Gracie the goose.
Gracie wasn’t the fastest flyer, nor the loudest honker. But she had something better: an incredible memory. She remembered every twist of the river, every hill, and even which farm had the tastiest spilled corn.
The younger geese always asked, “Gracie, how do you know the way?”
With a proud honk, she replied, “I’ve got the route right in my noggin!”
A Silly Detour
One chilly morning, the flock flapped their wings, ready for migration. Gracie took the lead, stretching her neck. “Follow me, everyone!” she called.
But halfway through the journey, Gracie spotted something shiny below a field of scarecrows dressed in funny hats.
“Oh, we have to see this!” she giggled, swooping down. The whole flock followed, landing in the field.
The geese tried on scarecrow hats, balanced on hay bales, and even chased each other around pumpkin patches. They laughed so hard they forgot they were supposed to be traveling.
“Gracie,” groaned Gary the gander, “we’re supposed to be heading south, not playing scarecrow dress-up!”
Gracie blushed. “Oops… I might have taken a silly detour.”
Trouble in the Clouds
Back in the sky, dark storm clouds rolled in. Rain pelted their feathers, and the wind pushed them off course.
“Gracie! Which way now?” the flock cried.
Gracie squinted through the storm. She thought hard. Left? Right? Or straight ahead?
She suddenly remembered a glowing landmark: Old Farmer Jenkins’ barn with its giant, crooked weather vane. If they could spot it, they’d be back on track.
“Follow me!” she shouted, leading the geese through the rain. Sure enough, the crooked weather vane poked out from the clouds.
“Phew!” the geese honked together. “We knew you’d find the way!”
The Route Remembered
Finally, after days of flapping, honking, and the occasional nap on a lake, the flock soared into their winter home. The sun shone on the wetlands, and fresh reeds swayed in the breeze.
“Gracie, you did it again!” the geese cheered.
Gracie puffed up proudly. “Of course! A goose never forgets her route.”
From then on, whenever young geese worried about getting lost, Gracie would wink and say, “Trust me, I’ve got the map right up here.” She tapped her feathery head, and the flock burst into happy honks.
And every year, without fail, Gracie the Goose led them safely home, with a few silly detours along the way.
The End !
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