As Aoife opened her eyes to the morning sun, she squinted and stretched her arms to the sky. As she slowly awakens completely from her slumber, she smiles as she remembers her recent good fortune in finding a place to call home.

She rises swiftly, dressing in the clothing she laid out the night before. She ambles about the kitchen, making coffee and toast for herself. As she sits at the counter, she thinks back to a simpler time.

She remembers her beautiful, young mother sitting by the fire and reading, or occasionally spinning a tale to keep Aoife and her siblings entertained.

Lying on the hearth rug on her stomach, feet crossed in the air and her chin in her hands, listening as the soothing voice of her mother drones on, mesmerized by its' gentle lilt.

Aoife finds herself in that world as if she can still hear her mama saying;

"Children, let me tell you a story. It is an Aesop fable old as time, but it has great meaning even today in our world. This is the story of the Goose with the Golden Eggs.

Long ago and far away, there lived a simple countryman. One fine day as he was headed to the nest of his prize goose, he noticed a glittering golden egg among the rest. He picked it up, and it was heavy as lead and he imagined he would throw it away, believing someone had played a trick on him.

Now children, upon thinking again, he decided to take it home with him. As he got to his house, upon further examination, and much to his delight, he found it to be of pure gold."

Aoife's eyes light up as she is entranced in the story her mother is relaying to them. Her mama briefly glances at them to see if they are still listening and then she begins again.

"Every morning the same thing occurred, and he soon became rich by selling his eggs. As he grew rich he grew greedy; my dear children, he was as greedy as the day is long.

That greed got him to thinking he couldn't wait for another day, to get another egg. He thought to get all at once, every bit of the gold the Goose could give. He pondered what he might do, and so he killed The Goose With the Golden Eggs.

He opened it up and looked inside, but there was nothing but the innards of a goose, no gold. Now he had a dead goose, and no gold, my children. Slowly he became downtrodden and melancholy, and eventually he lost all that he had gained, plus quite a little bit more."

The children would look up at their mother in wonder, waiting for the finality of it all. The lesson they would take away with them for a lifetime. A simple children's story, and a lesson in life.

"Greed oft o'er reaches itself."

Aoife feels herself coming out of the daydream, and remembers her dear departed mother fondly and she drinks her morning coffee and plans out the rest of her day.

Mercury listens to Aoife's tale knowing it all too well for even that rare goose who can lay golden eggs produces no more once they are slain. The end result is the same as is the lesson which comes at a heavy price.

Hot_Lips shuts her silver match box with a snap as she lights up for the first time in so long. Leaning back into her chair, she slightly smiles as she exhales and is propelled back in time after hearing of Aoifes tale.

"Ahhh yes! I remember those tales as well. However, I didn't have siblings and our place of choice was in my mothers bed...no matter what time she got home, she woke me up and this was OUR quality time...just her and I."

"Even though those said tales bring a smile to my lips, I must say we learn at a young age that they are simply just that...tales! There are no such things as golden eggs, back as far as in the playground we learn to stand up for ourselves and not believe in false promises. We grow up wide eyed and if we are lucky enough to have had great mentors, we become wise and self sufficiant."

"I do enjoy a good tale, but thank God they stay what they are meant to be...to entertain children."

I respectfully disagee. While fables do entertain children and adults alike (as telling them can be just as rewarding as hearing them) it is the moral of the story that is the true point. The morals are very real, even altruistic at times.  They would not be fables if their sole purpose was entertainment.

Though I have learned much in this world around me and from human nature, I have learned the most at my mother's knee. She was a sweet and gentle soul, yet rightly feared by some.

One of the things she taught me at a young age is that fable's use make believe to teach us a lesson  She knew that there was no golden goose, just as she knew there was no. little boy who cried 'wolf' She used these fables to teach us about the ways of the world in a way that is as old as time itself.  

I think some of the old fables are fabulous tools in teaching those that we raise up life lessons. Thank you Aoife for sharing this tale with us. And for allowing us a small glimpse into your life and your amazing relationship with your mother.

Cassi walks down the street, continuing on her way, with a smile on her face after hearing Aoife's wonderful story.

My Mama told me to stay away from Cassi but she keeps pulling me in!

Nice read Aoife, is nice to hear about peoples stories from time to time.