A Sudden Tug Along The Asphalt
A mottled brown bill clamped onto the yellow cotton of her sundress and tugged backward.
The woman gasped, her mouth dropping into an open circle as her eyes darted down to the road’s grassy edge. Standing by her white sneakers, a full-grown duck leaned its entire body weight back into the pull.
She took a tentative step forward. The duck released the hem, swiveled its neck, and took three quick waddles into the tall grass before looking over its shoulder.
Whenever the woman paused, the duck stopped too, bobbing its head and letting out low, rapid quacks. Her white shoes rustled through green blades and white clover as she followed the bird directly toward a weathered wooden post and wire fence line.
Reaching Through The Wire
The duck led her straight to the base of the wire fencing and stood firm, pointing its bill directly at the mesh.
She dropped to both knees in the dirt, tucking her dress beneath her shins. In the grass on the other side of the wire sat a tiny ball of yellow down, its webbed feet scrambling uselessly against the twisted wire grid.
The mother bird pressed her chest close against the wire squares, calling out in sharp, rhythmic clicks. The woman reached both palms through the gap, extending her fingertips toward the tiny bird.
Her hands gently cupped around the duckling’s trembling body. With slow, calculated movements, she eased the chick’s tiny wings backward away from the wire barrier.
The little bird let out high-pitched chirps as the woman lifted it over the lower wire and placed its tiny webbed feet into the clover on her side.
Waddling Toward The Evening Sun
The mother bird leaned her neck forward immediately, tapping her flat bill against the duckling’s back and sides to guide it forward.
The woman stayed low on her heels, resting her hands against her knees with a quiet smile across her cheeks. The duckling stumbled twice, found its balance, and began trotting right in the shadow of the larger bird’s tail feathers.
The mother turned toward the gentle downslope of the pasture, her strides steady and unhurried. Behind her, the little yellow chick scampered to match each footstep across the weeds.
The woman stood up, smoothing the front of her yellow dress as she watched the pair make their way through the pasture toward the tree line.
At the edge of the pond, the mother bird stepped into the calm water, sending small ripples across the surface where the orange glare of the setting sun reflected against the reeds. The yellow duckling hopped in right behind her, paddling out until both birds drifted together across the glowing water.
Send this to someone who knows that animals communicate in ways words never could.
