Brave Mira

Mira was small enough to hide her whole hand in Mama's, but her yellow boots sounded big and brave when they clattered across the park path. It was market day. The air was full of laughter, and the scent of freshly baked cinnamon buns wound between the stalls.

Balloons in all colors tugged at strings like impatient fishermen's bobbers. Flags fluttered and a little band played a happy tune with violin and drum. Mama smiled. – Look, apples!

The man behind the apple table had a moss-green cap and a big, kind laugh. – Try a slice, he said. Mira bit into the crispy slice. It tasted of sun and sugar.

Just then came a gust of wind, as if someone had blown through a giant straw. – My cap! shouted a boy in a fish shirt. The red cap sailed up, spun over the grass, and landed smack inside the pen where the geese walked.

The geese were big and white, with beaks like orange carrots and feet that plopped on the grass. They looked at the cap. – Hiss, said one. – Honk, said another. The boy bit his lip and his eyes got shiny.

– Oh dear, said someone. – We should tell the staff.

Mira felt her heart beating like a little drum in her tummy. The geese were almost as tall as her belly. They stared with round eyes. She squeezed Mama's fingers. – Geese can pinch, said an aunt worriedly. – Best to wait.

Mama crouched beside Mira. – I'm standing here, she said calmly. – You don't have to do anything. But if you want to try, we'll try together.

Mira looked at the boy in the fish shirt. His name tag said Leo. – My cap… he whispered. It felt like a little spark lit in Mira's chest. She swallowed, nodded, and counted quietly. One. Two. Three.

– I want to try, she said. She turned to the apple man. – May I borrow that long brush?

– Of course! said the man. – I'm Rune. This one is like an extra long arm. And guess what? Geese like apples. Take some slices.

Mira took the brush in one hand and some apple slices in the other. She walked toward the pen. – Hello geese, she said softly. – My name is Mira. You get apples. I just need to get Leo's cap.

The biggest goose, with shiny white feathers, came forward and stretched its neck. – That's probably Gullan, whispered Rune behind her. Gullan blinked, a slow blink, as if she was thinking.

Mira held out an apple slice through the fence. – Here you go, Gullan. The goose took a small, careful bite. The other geese nudged each other curiously. Mira laid another slice a bit farther away. – That's for you, she said. – Please, leave the cap alone.

When the geese followed the apple, Mira carefully pushed the brush under the cap's brim. The wind gust fluttered the flags again. The cap spun half a turn and rolled toward a water trough. – Oh no no, whispered Mira, and stuck out her tongue in concentration.

– Go Mira! someone called softly. – You can do it, another voice was heard. Leo stood at the fence with his hands on the mesh and hopped a little on the spot.

The brush poked, the cap lifted like a red pancake. Gullan stopped and looked, but Mira kept her calm voice. – Here, Gullan, more apple, she said and dropped another slice. The goose munched contentedly.

The cap slid closer to the fence. – Reach, Leo, said Mira. He stretched his fingers through the square. – I've got it! he shouted when the fabric reached his hands. A small cheer spread like bubbles in the air. Someone clapped. The geese kept munching.

Gullan blinked again, almost like a nod. Mira laughed. – Thank you for sharing, she said to the geese. – And goodbye.

Mama put a hand on Mira's shoulder. – What a clever idea with the apples, she said. Rune leaned against the brush. – You were kind and clear. The geese like that.

Mira felt something warm in her chest, like a little sun that lit lamps all through her body. She tucked a couple of apple seeds in her pocket. – These are courage seeds, she whispered to herself.

Leo pulled the cap on his head again. – Thank you, Mira! he said and smiled so big the fish on his shirt almost swam.

– You're welcome, said Mira. Her boots clattered again as she and Mama walked on between the stalls. They waved to Rune and to the geese. Gullan answered with a soft honk, and everything felt clear and bright and a little bigger inside.

Mira's steps sounded extra brave.