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Toby never thought he’d have to sit in a library for any sort of reason. His sister picked up books, both for school and for him. It wasn’t bad, just not the most ideal place for him. Reading books in the comfort of your own home sounded better.
“Here,” a book is slid in front of his arms. Lifting his head from the crooks of his elbows, Toby studies the cover.
“Self Defense Basics: Animals” the hardcover book is a boring beige color. Nothing too interesting.
Checking the books out takes a few minutes and then they’re heading home.
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The wind blew in Toby's hair as he sat by the window, a thin blanket draped around his shoulders. Afternoons like these were so calming, perfect for reading.
He had opened the book two hours ago, still on page two.
“Geese” the name of the chapter was. He barely got past the dedication page.
About to put his nose back in the book, Toby hears a doorbell. Who’s visiting on this fine afternoon?
“Lyra,” he lazily calls, not in the mood to confront the person. His sibling does not respond.
“Lyra!” No response yet again, making him roll his eyes and begrudgingly get up to answer the door.
It takes everything in him to not stomp his feet.
As soon as he swings the door open, “H...hello-?”
There’s no one there. The neighborhood is lively. Children are playing, people are mowing their lawns or gardening.
But who the hell knocked on the door? Perhaps the person left already. No one had made any orders so they certainly didn’t get any packages.
Something touches his leg and he jerks backwards.
It’s an animal. Some are white, others are grey with black and white faces. Their beaks were poking Toby’s legs and feet.
“G-geese,” he whispered, more than bewildered at the sight.
They weren’t hurting him, but they weren’t being the friendliest. Bending out and picking it up he holds it with both hands. It’s not exactly soft, but pleasing to his fingertips.
“Goose,” Toby muttered, watching it struggle in his hands. He released it and it lands. The rests on the ground, poking at his feet to the point he’s sure it’d hurt. The rest join in, causing him to move away.
When the harassment becomes a little too much for him, he tries to close the door, but they’re fast. Too fast. They come in and he looks at the animals. What did they want?
“Can I help you?” Toby reached down, trying to pet the goose- geese. Rather than accepting the show of affection, they make an attempt to chomp his fingers.
They surround his feet. He can’t move anywhere except for towards the door.
And so, the goose chase began.
Finally moving to one side, the geese make him move towards the door. He opens it once more and they cause him to stumble out. They really were demanding, huh?
“Agh-!” He nearly trips over a branch. They go on, causing him to run down the sidewalk. He doesn’t want to pet the geese anymore.
As he runs, more like lightly jogs, Toby says all sorts of apologies and things to the geese. They can't understand. Instead, it gets worse. They honk. He jumps, looking behind himself.
They don’t understand his cries of “I’m sorry”, just honk.
Toby’s running for who knows how long, not looking in front of himself. He just wants the geese gone.
Soon he loses his footing. Oh no.
A cliff? So suddenly? This was it. He had no time to tell anybody goodbye. Life’s flashing before his eyes and he’d be dead the moment he hit the ground. Toby’s heart drops and he doesn’t even have the courage to cry for help.
The geese stop, at last.
Toby closes his eyes, but before he can prepare, something breaks his fall.
He’s alive? He's alive!
“You fuck,” someone underneath him groans. Oh, so someone broke his fall. Thanks person.
Despite them not sounding very happy, Toby’s overcome with joy and relief.
He laughs nervously, sighing and rubbing his face with his hands. He just fell off a cliff and lived. Fuck you, geese.
The person underneath him breaks his train of thought, “Didn’t you hear me? Get the fuck off!”
Standing up, Toby muttered an apology. The stranger stands, too. It’s silent.
“So-” Toby can’t start a conversation before the other turns around, “I’m leaving.”
He understood and doesn’t bother to say anything else.
A honk scares them both and they’re running back towards Toby. Toby lifts his head, shocked.
“Let me leave!” the person was beyond pissed.
Toby laughs, “How’d they g-get you?”
Crossing his arms, they began to explain, “Flock of geese crawled through my damn window and they started pecking me out of bed. I ran here and they seemed to leave.”
Toby raised an eyebrow. Weird.
“Ooh! A-a bunch of them started ch-chasing m-me to this...cliff!” he said.
“Guess we were supposed to meet then,” the other shrugs. Toby finally got a good look at him. They’re not interesting but he does stare. Because you know, they’re not interesting.
Toby sighs, finding some humor in the situation. They share a laugh, having nothing else to say.
Geese chased him to his soulmate, he thinks that’s pretty cool.