79 THE STRANGE FAMILY

CHAPTER 79 THE STRANGE FAMILY Autumn was at its peak, and the island was turning deep shades of yellow and orange and red. Leaves dropped from their branches and floated to the ground. Some leaves landed on the pond and became snacks for the beavers who were busily preparing for winter. Brightbill glided through the crisp morning air and splashed down in the pond. The water rippled beside him, and Roz's head poked up. Then the two of them went for a swim. It was a lovely start to the day, but something was on Brightbill's mind. "I'm sorry, Ma," said the goose. "You've just met your grandgoslings, and tomorrow I have to take them away." "Please do not apologize," said the robot. "I know you must fly south for winter. I will miss you all very much, but I am excited for the goslings to go on their first migration." "They're excited too. They kept me up late last night with questions about the journey." Brightbill opened his mouth and yawned. "It's a good thing I've got

Glimmer. I don't know how you raised me by yourself." "I was not by myself," said Roz. "The geese offered parenting advice. The beavers showed me how to build a home. The deer gave me gardening lessons. Each of our friends helped us in their own way." Brightbill thought for a moment and said, "Now that I'm a parent, I see how lucky I was to have you as my mother. You taught me things I couldn't have learned from anyone else. I wouldn't be me without you. Thank you, Ma." "Oh, Brightbill," said Roz. "Your sweet words would make me cry if only I had tear ducts." A smile spread across Brightbill's face, and he broke into laughter. And then came giggles as the goslings flew over, with Glimmer close behind. Roz spent that day with her family, exploring the island and answering questions from the curious goslings. When they passed under an old oak tree, Roz explained that old trees could support a broad swath of forest. "Underground, their roots entwine with the roots of their neighbors," she said. "Through that connection, they share water and nutrients and even information. The forest is a diverse community of living things which is linked together by old trees, like this oak." "Grandma, you have a lot in common with that oak

tree," said Quickwit. "Yeah, you're always helping others and bringing everyone together," said Moontail. "Maybe this tree is a grandma too!" said Widestride. Roz patted the tree trunk, and said, "Grandmother trees. I like the sound of that." Then the robot began climbing the tree. Leaves gently shook as she climbed higher and higher. She found a sturdy branch and sat with her legs dangling. There was a flurry of wingbeats, and the geese fluttered up to join her. Before long, Roz and Brightbill and Glimmer and the goslings were all perched near each other in that old oak tree. "We're a strange family," said Lighteyes. "Yeah, but I like it that way," said Cloudfeather. The whole strange family nodded in agreement.

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