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I'm a children's author. Animals are a constant source of writing material for me. They are also my heart!

An Innocent Story About a Few Ducks

>> Tuesday, August 18, 2009





It started out innocently enough. I was sitting on the porch at the lodge minding my own business when they came. I couldn't stop them no matter how hard I tried. They just kept coming and coming.I tried to scare them away with my colorful toenail polish. I crossed my legs in an effort to look confident and stern. Then I tried to have a serious talk with them about why I really shouldn't be feeding ducks. I held my hands out wide and exasperated. "In most places, it's against the rules to feed the wildlife you know. " They just wouldn't listen. No matter how hard I tried, these ducks were determined birds. Yes they were.

Finally, in an effort to justify what I was doing, I called over the king duck. "King," I said, "If you please, call up the Rule Makers and tell them it's okay for me to feed the birds in your duckdom. I really don't want to get in trouble, you know. I have two days left here before I go home."



King Duck didn't blink an eye. "It will cost you," he said matter of factly. "Hand over the goods."

Never in my entire life has a duck told me to "hand over the goods" but the king duck meant business so I did as he said. I reached out and gave him the last of my breakfast bagel, which he took without so much as a thank you. In fact, he snapped me with his bill just to let me know who was in charge.



Then he asked for one more thing. "There's one duck in duckdom," he said, "That has a hurt foot. What do you think you could do for him?"

"Normally my friends and I try to rescue hurt animals," I told King Duck. "But your duck seems to be fairing okay. Let me call my son, Ryan, the fish and wildlife expert," I said.

Ryan (being much more reasonable than me) said, "Let nature do what it will...don't bring the duck home with you."

Ryan said that because I've done it before. It wasn't all that long ago that I forgot to tell my family there was an injured duck in our backyard that I had picked up from the side of the road to take to a wildlife center. It only created a little excitement.

But back to the story. King Duck watched me hang up the phone. "What'd he say?" the king asked.

I gave King Duck the low down. "Your son knows all about birds and what they do, right?" sneered the king.

By now I was feeling pretty fed up with this duck. He was pushing the limits with me. "Attacking my family won't get you far," I told the king. "Besides that, my son knows about more than just birds, I can promise you that."

"Quackidy quack," said the king. "Prove it!"

So I did. I reached in my pocket and pulled out a photo that my son sent me. By now I was bursting with pride. "See this!" I said as I shoved the photo in King Duck's face.

Ryan knows all about the birds



and

the

Bees!





"You have taught your son the ways of the world," said King Duck. "For that, I am happy. Enjoy the rest of your stay at Cherry Valley Lodge."


So I did as the king said. I enjoyed the rest of my weekend (even though I missed my dogs terribly). Then I made my way home... after a little shopping and lunch.


King Duck said he'd check in with me now and then to make sure I'm not messing up anything in the animal kingdom. I do believe he will, don't you?





A special thank you to Ryan who really did take the photo of the mound of bees on a tree at his park and also tell me not to put another duck in my car.

25 comments:

Parsley August 18, 2009 at 9:51 AM  

Hum...I think I'd take the duck. LOL

BRUTUS August 18, 2009 at 10:46 AM  

Cute post - but the bee thing really gives me the creeps. I know bees are wonderful little workers for mother nature, but keep them FAR away from me!!

Michelle

Jan Mader August 18, 2009 at 11:02 AM  

I don't know if I would have gotten as close as my son did!

bbes tribe August 18, 2009 at 11:11 AM  

Really enjoyed the duck story. Those ducks must have been hungry and they knew they could talk you out of something. We agree with Brutus about bees. Sounds like you had a good stay at the lodge.
Ernie & Sasha

T August 18, 2009 at 11:21 AM  

Aw, what a great story Jan!! I would have been tempted to help the duck. With that said though, I agree with your son, we *sometimes* need to let nature be.

Honeygo Beasley August 18, 2009 at 11:32 AM  

Sounds like an enchanted place to have a breakfast bagel!

Ziggy Stardust August 18, 2009 at 11:38 AM  

Wow that is a cool story Jan. Did the duck try to bite you? I think I would have been afraid, dropped my food and ran away. I don't think you should put ducks in your car either, they might leave you a package.

licks and sniffs, Sasha

Jan Mader August 18, 2009 at 12:08 PM  

Actually, the duck got my fingers a number of times, but there was no pain. This lodge is so cool because the rooms open out into a duck sactuary. No other wildlife can get in unless they go through the lodge doors.

I honestly did look for the injured duck when I got ready to leave, despite what my son said. We have a place here in Columbus that works with injured wildlife. The goal is to get them back in their habitat as soon as possible. I couldn't find the duck when we were ready to leave!

Unknown August 18, 2009 at 1:13 PM  

Cute story! No wonder you are a children's author!

Vicki August 18, 2009 at 1:38 PM  

What a fun duck story! I learned my lesson about feeding ducks at our marina. They became totally obnoxious and did not want to leave. Then they decided they would come back each and every day. Before you know it, there were little duck gifts everywhere. Then they invited the really uppity Canada geese to join them and well, it was just really fowl (pun fully intended) around there after that! I wonder if the term "bite the hand that feeds you" originated with ducks and geese? The certainly will do that!

Melinda August 18, 2009 at 1:53 PM  

You are the best writer ever!! That was a most delightful read. Thank you so much for the story..I will smile all day..

Lillian Robinson August 18, 2009 at 3:09 PM  

Do ducks like riding in cars? Hmmm...

Jan Mader August 18, 2009 at 5:37 PM  

Thank you for all the nice comments. I just have fun writing and you all know I love animals. I can't think of anything better to write about....come over to my other blog http://ignitetowrite.blogspot.com/
and write with me!

You're all terrific writers too!

Ryan August 18, 2009 at 6:45 PM  

Great story!!!! You sure are creative!!!

2cats August 18, 2009 at 7:42 PM  

What a fun story. I would have tried to bring the duck home too. There is always room for more. But keep the bees please.

TC August 18, 2009 at 7:51 PM  

I'm afraid of birds, ducks are more ok though. Ok I know I have an animals blog, birds are NOT animals. The toenail polish was cute, birds usually treat me like king duck treated you @ first.

Tweedles -- that's me August 18, 2009 at 8:53 PM  

Ohhhh I was ready for this story! I plopped myself right down here comfortably reading your words. Just as if you were reading to me. I was right there with you- the whole time! My interest never left for a second! This was a GRAND story hearing about the ducks and how they tried to pull your chain! You showed them a thing or two! I love this story so much, I will read it over and over and over.
Welcome to my world Jan! Fantasticlly brilliant!
love
tweedles

Historical sites with charmine August 20, 2009 at 1:26 AM  

Hi Jan,It was nice to find your blog and thanks for the follow.I live in an apartment,so,though i love animals i can't keep them,as we also travel.My blogs are about art and travel.Hope you'll like the Indian art you see on my blog.Have a nice day.

Susan B August 20, 2009 at 3:02 PM  

A very cute story! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog, and being a follower. This is a wonderful blog. I have enjoyed reading through it.

BeadedTail August 20, 2009 at 11:51 PM  

I enjoyed this story! I would have wanted to bring the duck home too but now I'll try to remember to let nature takes it's course.

Sandy August 21, 2009 at 9:25 AM  

What a wonderfully active imagination you have sisto. I can see it all now, ducks following you in the lodge, the manager asking ya to leave. Whew...good thing you're stay wasn't longer. lol

This story, would make a wonderful children's book...hint hint.

Good advice Ryan.

I know what you mean about using the AC less and keeping it cooler in winter. We do the same and it does indeed make a difference. I plug my phone in at night when I go to bed, to charge. About the only way to shorten that would be if I could see it well enough to know it was charged when I get up to go potty and unplug it then. I do wish though I could get into the habit with the bags, cause I have them in the car, in the kitchen; but am not good at remembering to take them into the store with me. We just keep trying.

Hugs or should I say Quack Quack

Terry August 21, 2009 at 12:21 PM  

Howdy
What a great post .
You have a wise son.
I love the bee photo that is so cool .
Make Way For Ducklings is still one of my favorite books to read :)
This was a great reminder.
Thank you for dropping by my blog and leaving such a sweet comment.
I am still amazed by the whole blog thing .
Have a wonderful weekend.
Happy Trails

myra August 22, 2009 at 12:26 AM  

I loved your story about the ducks.

Sandy August 22, 2009 at 11:30 PM  

Testing again, new puter, font wayyyyyyyyyy too small, it's hard on the eyes, your font is really small again too...hum; tried to make my email larger but my trick didn't work with this computer. Must re learn things it seems.

Testing my toolbar too.

Me

ocmist August 25, 2009 at 5:22 AM  

Cute story and I LOVE mallard ducks. We've had several over the years. Coyotes got our last two, Quackers and Cheese. It was so sad because Quackers had just hatched 10 ducklings. They started dwindling and then they were ALL gone, including Quackers.

I HATE bees, though. My Dad raised them and made a hive into a window in our wall and you could hear them buzzzzzzzing... I REALLY hated it when they would swarm!!!

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