Fast Fiction

Oh sure, Will encounters spectacular dangerous wildlife on his treks in the hills.

Me?

I was threatened by a goose.

We took a hike up in Malibu Creek State Park. It was a short hike, about a mile and a half (though it was damn hot). We arrived at Century Lake and found a shaded spot with a fallen tree to sit on right at the waters edge. Off on the other side of the lake were two geese. A large female and a smaller male that we decided was probably her offspring since he was a little small and young to be breeding.

Well, they made their way over to us. We were tickled, we were going to get some great photos. Not only did they swim right up to the bank near us, the climbed out onto the muddy short. Not two feet from us. I’m not just saying “two feet” I mean, two feet. There was no zoom used to get any photos. They were right there.

I’m not sure what they wanted, but every time I moved, the big female would look at me and hiss. She’d open her mouth and stick out her tongue and hiss at me. I had bare feet, so I kind of retreated. Of course The Man and Amy (my sister) made fun of me for being scared of the goose, but come on! What’s normal about a wild goose that comes right up to you from across the lake and hisses at you and tries to eat your hat?