Unlikely Friends

Willow

"Alright class, today, and for the next following weeks you will be doing a book report on "The Land of Stories"."

I rolled my eyes, and the entire class groaned.

"What are you all groaning about? This will count as 500 points in your grade once we are all done so you all better pay attention," our teacher said, handing us each a book and some paper.

I grabbed for my pen, got my phone and hooked in my earbuds. I scrolled through the list of my songs until I saw Let It Go. I pressed play, and started to hum along while my teacher gave instructions. I was right in the middle of the song when someone poked me in the back.

"Hey!" I whisper-yelled turning around to see who had interrupted me from my song. I smiled when I saw it was my best friend Violet. She handed me a note and smiled back, and then went back to pretending to pay attention to what was going on.

I turned around, and put the note underneath my desk, looking up every now in then to look like I was paying attention.

When my teacher turned away for just a minute to check her email I carefully undid it.

In the note it had a picture of Baymax and Hiro from Big Hero 6. Then it had a quote on it.

"We don't set out to be heroes, but sometimes life doesn't go the way you planed." It had more, but that was the important part. I got out my binder from under my desk and opened it up to put it in a special part of my binder where I kept all of my special things.

I carefully put in in, then closed my binder and put it away.

"Willow?" I looked up to see my teacher, a worried look on her face.

"Will you step outside for a minute please?" She got up from her chair and walked towards the door.

I gulped, and stood up. I started walking towards the door, getting looks from my classmates. I finally stepped outside the door and closed it softly behind me. I could hear my classmates talking.

"Willow... Your house caught on fire early this morning, and your mother and father were in there when the building caught fire. Luckily, the firefighters were able to rescue your mother, your father, however was, er, not so lucky."

I suddenly felt weak, and I fell to my knees.

"Where's my father?" I asked numbly.

My teacher sighed, and opened her mouth to talk, but I already knew the answer.

"Oh honey I'm so sorry. Things will get better." She grabbed for my shoulder to comfort me, but I pushed away.

"No. No they won't! Nothing's going to get better!" I ran off, pushing my teacher away, headed outside.

"Willow, wait!" my teacher yelled after me, but it was of no use.

I ran outside, and it started to rain. I shivered, and ran towards the woods surrounding my school. The rain got even harder as my tears grew stronger, and I suddenly tripped over a thorn bush.

I fell hard, and I groaned and looked at my hand. I had cuts everywhere and leaves in my braid. Everything started to get blurry, and then everything went black.

~~~

"Tsk tsk. My job is never easy, is it?" I heard a voice I'd never heard before talking to- well, nothing I think- as I began to wake up.

As I opened my eyes, I saw the strangest sight. A woman that looked like she was part goose. I'd once seen a picture of the Tooth Fairy looking half human and half hummingbird, and that's what I thought of.

"Who are you and how- and why- did you find me?" I demanded, standing up and sounding far more courageous than I felt just then.

"I am Mother Goose, and I am simply here to give you this. I will see you soon!" And with that, she poofed into nothingness, leaving behind an envelope and a white feather.

I was left dumbfounded. What? I thought, utterly confused. Shaking my head, I picked up the things, shoving them into my pocket, and slowly began to pick my way back to school to the nightmare awaiting me there.

Which is better: Mother Goose or no Dad?

I wish I didn't have to choose. But forests can be scary anyway. And that couldn't have been Mother Goose. She's just a myth.

Right?