You learned to fly today, little duck

[RoyalChick]

My little duck 'Baby' died today.

I was told by relatives to put him down, but I didn't. I wanted to give him a chance, something so small and frail didn't deserve to die. So I brought him in and raised him.

We never did figure out what caused him to be born like that. We tried niacin supplements, spoke with a vet, etc. "it's just the way things happen sometimes, don't blame yourself."

I had a special low little coop built for him, that way he was able to get in and out. I bought two female ducks, Betsy and Clarry to be his girls. Oh, how they doted on him. I would pick him up and carry him out into the yard where we would lay in the sun for hours. I put him in our little pond and let him eat the duck weed to his hearts content. I pulled him around the yard in his little wagon. I would put him in a little water tub in the yard and sprinkle in peas. Oh, the amount of times I would go out into the yard and there he was, splashing away in a mud puddle, on those days I would end up just as covered in mud after picking him up and moving him to his tub.

Today when I went out, there he was. Betsy was standing beside him nuzzling his forehead. I couldn't help but wail, I'm sure the neighbors heard and I know my family did. My heart hurts...

So today, you learned to fly. I'll miss you.

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