A Muskie Rooster’s Adventure

I started my journey in a kennel, a dog kennel to be exact. I thought, do I look like a dog? I don’t belong in a kennel; I belong riding shotgun next to my owner.

My owner is named Dr. Michael A. Grandillo, and he took me in when I was very young. I don’t know where my siblings went. I just woke up one day, and they were gone.

When I arrived at Lakeland College, I looked around from inside my kennel. “This is no farm. Where am I?”

I was dropped onto the ground and told, “Go off and explore.” Dr. Grandillo said, “I have work to do.”

I was too scared to go far at first, but then I met Lola the goose. There were about 30 geese, but they were all playing in the pond. Lola was the only one who approached me.

“Want to go on a tour?” she asked.

“Sure,” I replied. So I spent the morning walking around campus and enjoying the scenery. The campus was huge. I almost got ran over three times. Stupid cars not looking out for me. “I should pop their tires,” I said out loud.

Lola snorted. “Good luck with that.”

When we got back to the house I heard loud voices behind me. “What are you supposed to be?” asked one goose.

“You sure aren’t a goose,” said another.

I ruffled my feathers and said in my loudest voice, “I am the fiercest rooster that ever lived.”

“Hahaha. You’re too small to be a rooster,” they cackled.

That made me so mad. “I may be small but I can take you all on.”

“Oh yea? Prove it,” they yelled.

“Name the time and place. I will prove you all wrong,” I yelled, for I was fuming now.

“Okay,” George replied for he was the head goose, “how about a flying contest right now? Whoever can fly from one building to the next the fastest wins.”

“I can do that. Which buildings?” I asked.

“Krueger and Brotz,” he replied. I picked Larry to compete with me, for he was the smallest goose.

As we all walked to Krueger, I started strategizing. I knew my wings were smaller, but if I could flap them quickly, then I could stand a chance at winning. As we arrived at Krueger, I looked up. Wow that’s high, I thought.

“Which building are we starting at?” I asked.

“Brotz,” George replied. “You will have to fly up to get to the top of Krueger.”

I gulped for this was going to be harder than I thought. We flew up to Brotz and the other geese counted down. “Three, two, one, go!” I took off with all my might and was in the lead for the first five seconds, but I was just not made for flying like that.

I was almost to the top when I started to feel tired. Come on, I thought, for I was almost there. I gave one last push and then,

I was there. I lost, but only by two seconds. I landed, feeling defeated. Who needs them, I thought. I’ll find my own friends.

“You know what, you tried, and just for that we will give you another chance tomorrow,” they said. That made me feel so much better.

Just then I heard Dr. Grandillo calling me. “Joe! It’s time for your dinner!”

“I have to go,” I said. “Goodbye until tomorrow.”

“Bye, Joe. Come back tomorrow for more fun,” they called back. I took off and flew to my new home.

I was tired, but it had been a good day. I enjoyed the friends I had made, and I knew that my days would only get better as more activities occurred on campus.