Bernie's Quest: A Feathery Tale (version numérique)

By Manon Corriveau Côté

A Canada goose named Bernie gets lost in migration on his way back to Canada. Bernie unknowingly travels over the Atlantic Ocean, then willingly through England in quest of his soul mate. He meets colourful bird characters along the way, but will he really find the love of his life in this foreign country?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781312974098

Book preview

Bernie's Quest: A Feathery Tale (version numérique)

Bernie’s Quest:

A Feathery Tale

Manon Corriveau Côté

2015

Copyright © 2014 by Manon Corriveau Côté

Cover design: Laurence Beaudoin-Corriveau

Illustrations: Suzanne Côté

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: 2014

ISBN 978-1-304-91831-4

E-mail: [e-mail]

Printed in Canada

Dedication

To Uncle Peter, a kind man who lives in Suffolk;

To Oliver and Angela, who welcomed us into their homes when my husband and I visited the great city of London;

And to David, heart and mind of the real Dolphin Inn.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank those who played a role in the creation of this book:

Debby Baker, my English Editor, for her valuable insights;

Eileen Laverty, singer & songwriter, for graciously allowing me to quote the chorus of her beautiful song Broadway;

Laurence Beaudoin-Corriveau, for believing in my talent and putting hers in the beautiful cover design she made for this book;

Suzanne Côté, for her nice illustrations, and for her honest and helpful comments (which are priceless);

Ruth & Bruce Shorkey, for their friendship, their constant support and their very tactful comments;

Brian Caines, for his support and comments, and for his inspiring volunteer work for the Parliament Hill Cat Sanctuary;

Lammert Prinsen, for his helpful comments;

Michael Côté, for his unconditional love and his constant support (giving me the serenity I need to create);

Jane Roberge, for sharing my dream of being an author as well as some of the pain that made it possible;

Danielle Schnupp, for her enthusiasm for my stories, her kind heart and her faith in God (she is a real inspiration).

Chapter 1

I’ll teach you to ride on the wind’s back,

And away we go!

(Sir James Matthew Barrie, Peter Pan)

A couple of years ago, a family of Canada geese was flying back north after spending the winter in North Carolina. Bernie, youngest of the flock, was supposed to fly behind his older brother for the whole trip home to Canada. Unfortunately, things did not go according to plan. With Bernie, they rarely did. On his best day, he was an absent-minded dreamer with a very poor sense of direction.

On this particular night, the sky was clear; no clouds, no rain, just zillions of stars brightening the way. Letting himself