My name is Brian the Gosling. I was the last in my nest to peck past my eggshell and peek at my bright, blue and green world. My gosling siblings and I were born two days ago. That's what the lifeguard goose on duty said and I believe him because he has a loud duck call you can hear from one end to the other of San Pedro Springs Park pool.

Our pool sits beside tall cypress and oaks. There are grasses and bushes at the edge of the pool. Mama and Papa showed us to hunt for worms, bugs and tender shoots. Today, we waddled our way through the greenery to the edge of the pool. We saw families of big, featherless geese laughing, swimming and playing. Then the lifeguard goose tooted his whistle call and ordered everyone to stop and get out of the pool. They do that when they change lifeguard stations.

When the pool was empty of all the featherless geese, Mama and Papa led us to the pool's edge. We watched as they glided gracefully into the water. One by one, my sibs followed them into the pool. Once again, I was the last to step forward to the edge. It was a long way down! I took a deep breath and fluffed my feathers. I was scared. I looked around and felt more lonely for my family than I was scared.

Even though I was scared, I took a leap and landed with a splash and when I opened my eyes I was under water! I inched upward until I was halfway in and out of the water. After a bit of bowling sideways and bobbing in circles, I got the hang of floating. I looked to find my siblings. No surprise, they were ahead of me following Mama and Papa. They paddled and peddled with their feet so I did, too.

I went as fast as I could to catch up with them. Then a long tweet filled the air! The lifeguard goose let all the featherless geese come back into the pool. They were all shapes and sizes and some had tattoos on their arms and chests. I watched them jump into the water. Some floated and tumbled calling out a funny goose call, "Marco Polo!" I wanted to play with them, but I remembered I had to find my family.

I spotted Mama and Papa at the edge of the pool. They lifted their big wings and gracefully flew out of the water. Would I ever be able to do that? I saw my siblings swimming in a line to some steps close to the edge of the pool. First in line, was, who else but my oldest, biggest sibling. She stirred the water rapidly and flew up to land on tall, orange legs! Always first. The big show off! I had almost caught up to my siblings when, who gets in my way, but a big lady goose with no feathers except for some grey ones on the top of her head! She reached out to give me a lift out of the pool and Mama swooped with her long neck to hiss "shhhhh shhhhh," warning the featherless goose to leave me alone.

Then came a sharp whistle honk and loud warning, "Stay away from the ducks!!" said the lifeguard goose. He should know better than to call me a duck! Even though we're quite different, we geese are often mistaken for ducks. Whatever! I'm just glad he was looking out for me!

I watched my siblings. First a flutter of wings, then a magical leap from the water and whoosh, they were out of the pool. Then it was my turn. I churned the water and unfolded my wings and splash! I fell back in, sinking and scrambling just to stay afloat. I heard the crowd of featherless geese nearby call out sympathetically, "Awwhh!" They sounded sad. I swam around a bit and tried another time. Again, I sank back into the water. "Awwhhhh!" the featherless geese called out again, even sadder. I swam a little further to another step, closer to the edge of the pool. I looked around. Everyone in the pool was quiet and still. They were all looking at me! I was the last of my siblings left in the pool.

Mama and Papa were walking away toward the trees. I was so afraid I'd be left behind! I took a deep breath, leaped into the air and flapped my wings as hard and as fast as I could. I felt my feet leave the water and reached out with them to grasp the pool's edge. Then with a push that came from somewhere, maybe it was the wind, I flopped onto the concrete shaking water off my feathers. I heard the featherless geese call out, "Yea!! Yea!!" They cheered and clapped their feet with happiness. The applause made me feel this was the best day of my whole life so far!

And, you know how hungry swimming makes you. I was starving! I joined my siblings and Mama and Papa to peck in the soil for something good to eat. Today was a day of firsts. I learned to both swim in the pool and to fly. That's a lot! I may be the last at some things, but now I know that if I keep trying, I'll be fine! As the sun warmed my back, I remembered floating in the water and flying for the first time. Best of all were the wonderful sounds of the featherless geese who cheered and clapped for me on my first day in the pool at San Pedro Springs Park.