Pretty duckies

[botias]

11YO and I went for our regular constitutional and saw a couple of ducks running down the street like they had somewhere to go. There was no catching up to them, they had a good head start and they were moving fast (turns out they were blue Indian Runner Ducks). I felt bad for them, worried they would get eaten by a dog or struck by a car. It was a bit of a surprise to find them loitering in the alley by our house on our return. I corralled them while 11YO went to round up some additional duck wranglers. Everything was going fine until a Persian cat that lived nearby spotted three potential BFFs just standing around waiting for him. We made a silly carousel as he tried alternately make friends with me and the ducks and I tried to shoo him gently without shoo-ing the ducks. They were very handsome, slate grey with a black head and neck. I found that when I walked toward them they walked away, but as soon as I turned my back they would lunge at me and begin chewing on my sneakers and the hem of my pants. It was easy to catch them while they tried to eat my Nikes. My yard is not duck-tight so in the end, it was off to the duck pond at the park with them. You know how, in the Disney movies, they turn some wild animal loose and the scenery is beautiful and there's another of their species waiting in the wings to be their new friend? Well, it happened exactly like that, actually. There happened to be another duck of exactly the same breed swimming around, and the two latched onto him and made an instant flock. I was astounded and gratified.