Always Be Appreciative of Opposable Thumbs

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Family Reunion

 "Where could they have gone?" asked Willow as she and Hugo searched for Jyoji and Sera.

"No idea," Hugo said, peering into a nearby alley.

Willow lifted up a rather large stone and checked underneath. "Do you think Jyoji's mad?"

Hugo peeked through the window of a tavern. "I'm not sure he can even get mad."

Sighing, she plopped down on the ground. "We should have told him. We shouldn't have lied to him."

"It really wasn't our secret to tell," Hugo said as he sat beside her.

"But we're his friends. Friends don't lie to each other."

Running his fingers along the dirt road, Hugo shrugged. "Yeah, but you have to consider timing. Sometimes you have to wait for the right moment."

Willow shook her head. "I just feel awful. He must be so hurt that we kept him in the dark like this."

"He's a good person, Willow. I'm sure he'll forgive us."

"And I can't believe Inez outed Sera like that. Didn't she think that maybe it was a sensitive subject? How could she be so rude?"

Hugo opened his mouth but was interrupted by a series of frantic honks. He furrowed his brow and looked around. Willow, too, glanced about in search of the sound. But as the honking grew louder, she recognized the familiar voices.

I'm the second eldest, so it should go to me.

Why should it matter if you're old? I'm the prettiest, so I think it belongs to me.

You're both addled. It should go to the smartest. And that's me.

I have the smallest feet. So—

Oh, be quiet, Ilsa, no one cares about your feet.

A prince might. Which is why—

Ugh, you're giving me a headache with your stupidity.

Gasping, Willow clambered to her feet and ran towards the arguing voices. As she rounded the corner, she was met by the sight of a gaggle of squabbling white geese. Her heart leapt into her throat, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Sisters!" she cried out, throwing her arms open.

The geese ceased their bickering and glanced up at her. One cocked her head to the side. Who is this strange girl addressing us?

"Gertrude, it's me," Willow said as she stooped down to meet her eye. "Willow."

Gertrude tilted her head to the other side. Willow?

Willow's heart sank slightly, but she persisted nonetheless. "Your sister. Don't you remember me?"

At this point, Hugo had caught up to her, and he was eyeing the geese suspiciously.

Oh, now I remember, Amrei said. She's the goose to whom Mama gave the bonnet. Remember, she brought that cabbage farmer to our house?

Gertrude shifted her gaze back to Willow, her earlier confusion having turned to contempt. Oh, yes. The intruder.

"Intruder? But I'm—"

Don't you dare call yourself our sister, Dagmar said, her posture perfect even as a goose. You are nothing but a filthy farm animal who should have been dinner. You have no place in our family.