Duck, Duck, Goose (2 page)

“You know, Duck,” Thistle said, “once, THREE butterflies landed on my head at the same time!” She leapt in the air.

“Three butterflies, all at the same time! Isn’t Thistle amazing, Goose?” Duck quacked.

“Yeah, she’s something, all right.”

“That’s two more butterflies than you had!” said Duck.

“I know, I can add,” mumbled Goose.

“Hey, I’m really good at math, too!” exclaimed Thistle. “I’m probably the best!”

“For example, what’s four plus nine, Goose?” she asked. “Think fast!” And she kicked a puddle. SPLASH!

“THIRTEEN!” she yelled before Goose could answer.

“What about six plus three?” SPLASH! SPLASH!

“NINE, that’s easy!” Thistle shouted. “What about seven plus two?” SPLASH! SPLASH! SPLASH! “Nine again, of course!” Thistle screamed. “Nine, nine, nine, nine!”

“I can’t do math when I’m being splashed,” sputtered Goose. “Could we please play something else?”

“I can hold my breath practically forever,” boasted Thistle. “Can you, Goose?”

“Do I have to?”

“Oh, come on, it’ll be fun,” quacked Duck. “I’ll time you.”

“Fine,” said Goose, and he took a big breath.

So did Thistle.

Duck counted. “One hippopotamus, two hippopotamus …,” all the way to eleven, when Goose collapsed.

“I win!” said Thistle, doing a little spin.

“You are so good at that! I bet you really could have lasted forever!” exclaimed Duck.

“I’d like to see her try,” groaned Goose.

“So what else do you do around here for fun?” quacked Thistle.

Duck looked at Goose. “We play,” he said.

“I bet I’ll win,” quacked Thistle.

“We run around the meadow or kick our ball,” said Goose. “There is no winning.”

“Then why bother?” said Thistle. “Last one to the top of the hill is a rotten egg.” And off she ran.

“Well, I guess I’m the rotten egg,” Goose said.