While Marcella went to get the eggs, Kayla carefully lifted the pool. Goldie the goose was sitting calmly, carefully picking out the corn from her less favored grains. She let out a few complaining honks when Kayla lifted her away from the food but soon quieted down when she discovered the pile of lettuce and melon Kayla had placed in the carrier.
Kayla wiped off her hands on her pants. Goldie was wet, perhaps just returned from whatever water source she'd found near here.
Marcella came back with a small bag in a wheelbarrow. She brought it to a halt near Kayla and peered down into the carrier at Goldie.
“It’s cute, just like the picture,” she said.
“The picture?” asked Kayla.
“On the signs posted in town. You didn’t put them up?”
“Of all the dumb-shit things... Of course Alex would go and do something like that,” said Kayla. Here they were trying desperately to keep the existence of a goose that lay golden eggs under wraps and her brother was putting up posters of it. He never thought things through.
With a sigh and a shake of her head, Kayla turned her attention back to the eggs. She opened the bag and whistled.
“Goldie must have liked it here. She doesn’t usually lay so much.”
“I wondered about that,” said Marcella. “They’re so heavy. For eggs, I mean”
“Almost two-and-a-half pounds each,” said Kayla.
She transferred the eggs from Marcella’s bag to her own and caught sight of the wistful look on Marcella’s face.
“I know it’s not fair, but it’s for the best,” said Kayla.
“I know. It’s just…I thought it’d be nice for the kids, not having to worry about college.”
Kayla thought for a moment and then pulled two eggs back out. She offered them up to a surprised Marcella.
“Go on. Alex won’t be expecting this many,” urged Kayla. “He’ll never know. Unless you let it slip.”
“I’m not even sure what to do with them,” said Marcella as she took them back.
“I can’t help you with that, but whatever you do, don’t do it locally. We own all the pawn shops and jewelers in a 100-mile radius”
This was inspired by the #freewrite prompt posted.
This is a continuation of
Image by Antranias.
