One evening a goose arrives on your porch. He tells you his name is Frank and he must come in.

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Frank was dressed impeccably; suit jack, vest, and pocket square. A thin chain ran from his pocket up to the monocle at his left eye. He ruffled his tail feathers and pointedly asked, “so are you going to let me in or what?”

I was still stunned. How does one react to a talking goose showing up at their doorstep? I stepped aside and he waddled in and the through the house to the dark kitchen. I closed the door behind him and followed along. He sat at the table, the light from the TV in the living room just barely reaching his face. “Leave the lights off, it’s better if the house looks as it usually would.”

I still hadn’t spoken. I could quite find the words to encapsulate the questions I had. I retrieved the bottle of vodka from freezer and poured myself a generous glass. I threw it back and winced harshly. I set them both down and joined him at the table. He was serious but nervous. “Is your name Lana Mae Neilson, born March of 1997?” I nodded. “I need you to listen to me very carefully then as the next part is important.”

He opened his beak to continue but I interrupted, I felt that I deserved a question or two before he played his hand. “How are you able to talk? Do you only speak english?”

He paused, hesitantly. “Do you remember a small embankment not far from the park in town? It sat at the edge of the factory’s property behind the soccer fields.” I again nodded. “Well that factory heavily polluted the area for years until someone finally forced them to close their doors. That someone started to notice drastic changes in the wildlife that lived in the park and worried about the potential impacts to the local children. That someone noticed I was different and took me from the park when I was young and raised me. That someone is now missing. That someone is why I am here.”

“So who is that someone? What does all this have to do with me?”

“I saw you in the park the other day. You were watching all the other geese almost as if you could tell what they were thinking. Do you ever feel like you are fully in tune with nature, like you can understand the wind when it blows?”

I nodded, my inability to identify appropriate words returning.

“That someone taught me to always be open to all the possibilities. I believe that it is a possibility that you were impacted by the runoff of this factory. Not only you, however. I am here because I need you assistance in finding the others. They could be in grave danger and I needed the help of someone who could undertand me.”

“But you can speak? Couldn’t anyone help you? And in what way do you think I’ve been ‘impacted’?”

“Child, think back to your first questions; ‘how can I talk’ and ‘is it only english’. I am not actually talking, you are just able to understand me. As such, I am not able to speak english or any of your languages. I sound as all other geese do. As I said I believe that it is possible that your were impacted, I believe you have the ability to communicate with animals.”

“But I’m almost 20. I’ve had pets before and have never been able to basically speak to any of them.”

“Not everyone will be the same. It seems to be a misconception that one will come into their abilities as an adolescent. Your abilities will present themselves when you are ready.”

“You still haven’t really said what you need from me or who this cryptic keeper of your is.”

“Their name I cannot reveal just yet but what I can say is that I need your help to find the others and alert them to their possibilities.” He ruffled his feathers repeatedly. “I apologize for the vague nature of my statements but I must be sure that I can fully trust you before I reveal too much about my mission.”

“Do we think that asking for trust from a stranger at such a late hour is wise given that you are a talking goose, which already makes me think this is a dream?”

“You don’t need to accept my request, but we both know that you need to understand more about exactly what the extent of your abilities are. I am just an ordinary goose to most others, but we’ve been sitting here conversing for the last twenty minutes like I was any ordinary human. I am in a suit jacket for christ sake, aren’t you the least but interested in the adventure I am offering to you?”

I leaned back in my chair. It creaked underneath my uneasiness. “What happens next if I say yes?”

“You come with me and you don’t look back, at least for now. I can’t guarantee safety but this is important. If the wrong people figure out how to develop humans with abnormal abilities the world as we know it will crumble away.”

“What happens if I say no?” I couldn’t quite meet his gaze any longer.

“I don’t believe that you’ll say no. I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t truly believe you’d be willing to assist me.”

Frank and I sat in silence for a few moments. The light from the TV in the living room flickered and danced, the room felt colder.

Frank broke the silence. “Go pack a bag. I’ve already been here too long.”

I nodded and stood. I reached for the light switch as I crossed back into the living room. “And remember, leave the lights off. They could be watching you.”

Frank took a flask from the pocket inside he jacket and took a healthy sip. He flapped his wings as he hopped off the seat and waddled back towards the door.

I found myself questioning my judgement for the first time tonight. _Was he drunk? Was I drunk? Was the world drunk?_

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“You’ve got five minutes kid, best get a move in.”