The Wise Mamma Goose

Nestled between rows of tall red hollyhocks, the quiet garden offers a rare refuge from the clamor of the barnyard, and it is here that a devoted mother goose tends her dozen fluffy, yellow goslings. She delights in their bright eyes, their love of sunrise baths in the brook, and the way they out‑hunt the other chicks, feeling a swell of pride each time she smooths her feathers. Yet a silent menace haunts the nights: every morning one little bird is missing, taken without a sound, and even the proud rooster appears bewildered.

The other barnyard residents mutter about hawks, a tired white cock, and the vanished watchdog, but none can solve the mystery. Determined, Mamma Goose resolves to stay awake through the darkness, to watch with her own eyes what steals the chicks away. She gathers her thoughts, settles her goslings near the water, and as the sun sinks she prepares for a long vigil, hoping her own watchfulness will finally reveal the hidden threat.