A state of grace

On my way to the post office to send a package, a little drama unfolded. Blue skies and warm breezes made for a perfect spring/summer day.

At a four way stop near the senior center traffic was stopped beyond the intersection for a mother mallard duck and what looked like a newly hatched family. They were crossing the road, heading for the river bank.

Almost all had climbed the curb, when cars started moving. All but two, then one ran frantic, up and down at the foot of the pavement's curb. Then it started darting into traffic.

Most likely the duckling would have climbed the curb, but without thinking I pulled over, put on my van's emergency flashers and went to help the duckling. As I approached, another van, its driver distracted by me in the road, drove closer to the curb... by the baby duck. Its tires missed the duckling.

Gently I scooped up the baby and carried it across the sidewalk to where the dam was with the babies, but I was too close and she charged at me, wings flapping and beak open. Startled, I stepped back and turned to cross the street to where my van was parked. The family moved on towards the river.

A well dressed man in a new pick-up truck smiled and waved. He'd seen the baby, too. For anyone else, it was just a little dumb duckling, I guess. Make it or not. Life is tough, but maybe today was a blue and gold day of grace.