April (week 2)

 

SPRING

 

Part II

Although March was colder than usual, Gus and Gertie were relieved that they had come home before the first day of spring. They would have been horribly disappointed to find another couple squatting on their island. The two enjoyed these quiet days, knowing soon they would be consumed with a new family of goslings. 

The snow on the lawn in front of the blue house was disappearing. Gus and Gertie poked about the thawing earth nibbling on the short, dormant grass. The pond remained frozen in areas but the ice was gradually melting, allowing the pair to paddle about leisurely. Gus continued to ponder the mystery of what he now referred to as “the Wooden ducks”. He had poked his head below the surface of the water and discovered they had no feet. Was it any wonder they could go nowhere? 

One morning in mid-march a familiar pair of ducks appeared on the pond. The Buffleheads always spent a week with the island dwellers. Gus had looked forward to their arrival, telling Gertie he was hoping they may shed some light on this mystery. He assumed all ducks knew each other.  

Gertie was amused, “You’ve never even spoken to the Buffleheads,” she teased.

“Well, maybe I will this year,” he snapped. “And even if I don’t, I’ll watch closely and see if they talk to the Woodens.”

Gus surprised Gertie by plucking up the courage to talk to the visitors. He was amazed to learn that all ducks don’t know one another. 

“In fact,” the Buffleheads shared, “ducks don’t all speak the same language.” 

They agreed with Gus that the Woodens seemed very standoffish and they would do what they could to help uncover the mystery.
Meanwhile, Charlie Otter overheard the conversation and quietly sidled over to the waterfowl, catching them off guard.  He assured them he was not a threat and offered his assistance. 

“After all,” he said, “I can go much deeper in the water than any of you.”
That was certainly true and could be very helpful in the quest.

Gus shocked them all when he told them the Woodens had no feet. 

“Do they have legs?” asked Charlie.
“I didn’t look that closely,” admitted Gus. 

Gertie was fascinated watching the unlikely group working together  so amicably that she kept what she knew to herself. She wondered how much longer it would take them to resolve the conundrum. 

It was decided that the Buffleheads would attempt to strike up a conversation. Failing a response from the Woodens, Charlie Otter would slip below the surface and report back if they were missing more than just their feet. 

Through all this, the Woodens just bobbed about on top of the water, never venturing from their fixed location, never showing any interest in their surroundings.

The Buffleheads split up, each paddling over to one of the Woodens. They returned to the group, waiting near the dock, and reported they were unsuccessful.  Their words had appeared to fall on deaf ears.

Charlie slipped under the water. There were no feet. No legs. No feathers. Each of the Woodens was tied to a string. Charlie followed the string all the way down to the bottom of the pond. He returned to the dock to share what he had discovered.
Gertie had to ask what the string was attached to in the depths of the pond water. Charlie would have to go back down.

He returned once more to the dock. “Seems the string is tied to a rubber hose,” he announced. “I felt air escaping from the hose.”

“Where does the rubber hose lead to?” prompted Gertie. And realizing Charlie probably needed explicit instruction she advised him to follow the rubber hose as far along the bottom of the pond as he could.

Off he went once more. The group, waiting anxiously by the dock, suddenly heard Charlie calling to them from the far end of the pond. The Buffleheads paddled over. Gertie and Gus quickly waddled along the pond edge and the group gathered once more with Charlie. He showed them the hose coming out of the pond. 

“Now where does it go?” asked Charlie.

Gus followed the hose along the ground to the windmill. “It runs up the leg,” he shouted, pointing to it but looking confused.

He returned to the pond. Charlie, the Buffleheads and Gus were no further ahead.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Gertie asked. 

The group stared at her. It was not obvious to them.

She had to explain. “The Woodens aren’t real ducks. When the windmill spins it blows air into the pond water. The Blue House people put the Woodens there to mark where the hose ends. THE DUCKS AREN’T REAL.”

They continued to stare at her.

“Look,” she said. “The windmill is spinning. Now look at the Woodens. See the air bubbles. THE WOODENS AREN’T REAL DUCKS. They’re markers.”

And with that, Gertie slipped into the pond and paddled over to the island, pleased with herself for having known all along. 

“Well, I’ll be,” declared Gus.

To Be Continued