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Mucky Duck
By ~ Chanti
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Not rated by the Author.
A look at another of my strange animals. I hope this raises a smile at least.
Aside from the fact that there are a bunch of colourful people that inhabit my house, we have a strange assortment of animals too. I know that I've shared some of their antics here and so some of the members are familiar with my odd collection of farm animals and other pets.
One of my favourites is Mucky Duck. He is the ugly duckling that never turned into a beautiful swan. He doesn't seem fazed at all but this is probably because he has never been confronted by a mirror. I chuckle to recall the day I went to collect him. I had asked Theresa from Lemon Rose farm if she had a male duck. I specified that it had to be white. I placed this order because I had adopted a pair of white female ducks (remember the affectionate dykes?) and really wanted them to produce duck offspring. I certainly didn't want to see them relegated to a life of spinsterhood.
When I went to collect him I was startled to find that although they had indeed captured a white duck, he was unlike any duck I had ever seen. To my untrained eye, his face closely resembled a baboon's backside. Now please understand that whilst I have not examined a baboon's backside too closely, this was my first impression. A baboon's backside (from what I've seen in my visits to zoos) did come to mind when I clapped eyes on his proboscis. I tried hard to hide my disappointment at his peculiar looks and bundled him safely into the trunk of my car and drove home.
When I finally released Mucky into an enclosure, my children rushed up excitedly to inspect the new arrival. Their faces were a picture. My son asked me with a perplexed look on his face, why the duck's face had 'burst'. I replied irritably that it was probably because he hadn't listened to his mother. Fortunately my son has a sense of humour and thought my retort was amusing. Candice, my eldest daughter, stared at the new arrival with a frown creasing her pretty forehead before finally asking, "Mom is that a duck?"
"Yes for crying out loud, can't you see that?"
"But what's wrong with his face?"
"I don't know. Perhaps he has a brain tumor and it's bursting out of his head!"
"Well I don't think Bubble and Squeak are going to like him"
These words proved to be prophetic because when I introduced them, Bubble and Squeak made strange hissing noises and waddled off in disgust. Mucky is an affable fellow and he tried so hard to befriend the others but they pecked at him and chased him away so often, he finally got the message and became the Duck Lone Ranger.
Ducks usually have a protective waxy film on their feathers that causes water to run off so that they don't get wet. This comes in handy when they want to swim as they don't need a towel to dry off afterwards. It is also useful when it rains because they will happily play outdoors without getting wet or dirty. Hence the saying 'like water off a duck's back'. Mucky is definitely not your usual production line duck. In manufacturing terms, he is a Friday short-shift model. He does not have a protective film on his feathers and so when it rains he gets wet and there is no more miserable sight than a wet duck. Fortunately he has learnt to shake himself out much like a dog does. This is probably from observing Arnold, a genuine dog, in action. The reason I say this is that it has become clear that Mucky no longer knows that he is a duck. He has become convinced he is a dog and behaves like one. He spends the greater part of his day in wait at the door waiting for scraps to be thrown his way and he catches them in his bill as effectively as any of my dogs do. He also wags his tail end enthusiastically in greeting and I'm sure if he could bark he would do so. Some cruel quirk of nature dictates that male ducks do not have a voice and they cannot quack. The females, however, are very noisy and even if the males could vocalise they'd have a hard time getting a quack in edgeways.
I recently adopted a new puppy, a Jack Russel Terror...oops I mean Terrier, I've named Maggie. Like all of my other pets, she has quite an unusual character. She took to Mucky instantly and he finally has the friend he has always wanted. I can only smile when I watch the two play with one another. Every now and again Mucky gets a little annoyed with the playful antics of the rambunctious pup and gives chase with intent to inflict serious bodily harm. Maggie, however, is faster than the ungainly waddler and has thus far escaped unscathed. Those incidents apart, they are an affecionate and loving pair of friends.
Yesterday when I was driving down the long driveway to my home I saw something that would have made an excellent kodak moment. Maggie has straddled Mucky on many occasions in a canine display of superiority. This time, however, she was casually sitting astride his back as he waddled slowly along the drive, her tongue lolling out of the side of her mouth. I was on my cell phone at the time and wasn't quick enough to snap off the shot or I would have included it with this story.
It could only happen here. Where else would you see a dog that believes it is human riding a duck that thinks it is a dog?
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| Reviewed by Mary Lou Connolly |
3/22/2009 |
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| Indeed it did bring a smile but also warmed the heart. I'm glad to know that Mucky finally "fit in". The story of Mucky reminded me of the time my dad brought home two ducklings the same day my Mom brought home my baby brother. What a racket! Thanks for the story AND the memory! Mary Lou |
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| Reviewed by Michelle Close Mills |
5/9/2007 |
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| I LOVED this! Thank you for the smiles my Friend! Love, Michelle |
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| Reviewed by Tracey L. O' Very |
6/24/2005 |
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I Love this story and it is such a strong message in here, too. The ending really made me chuckle well more than chuckle. I'd like to come see your wonderful family. They sound just like I'd fit right in. This is so wonderful I love it and you! You are one Beautiful loving soul. xoox
your Mucky reminds me of a rooster I had I named Charlie, in the fact of not fitting in, being chased off. Not really quite the character though of Mucky! I don't think anyone will ever match Mucky. XOOX (c :)Thanks so much Chanti |
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| Reviewed by Cynthia Borris |
5/23/2005 |
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Chanti,
Love the ending! Great write.
Cynthia
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| Reviewed by Karla Dorman, The StormSpinner |
5/17/2005 |
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Chanti,
A charming, beautiful tale you've told of Mucky Duck--he's not Mucky any more, he's LUCKY, because you've penned his delightful memoir! WELL DONE! (Bet you didn't know you'd become a Duck Biographer, did you, now? Some people have ALL the luck!! LOL)
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla. :) |
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| Reviewed by Lisa Adams |
5/17/2005 |
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| Great story, Chanti. |
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| Reviewed by The Smoking Poet |
5/17/2005 |
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Charmed! What joy and amusement our critters bring to our lives!
I had just written my own short piece about a Sunday morning waking with my fuzzy family, and then found yours...
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| Reviewed by Paul Williams |
5/16/2005 |
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Lol shame you missed the pic Chanti, would have loved to have seen that. Thanks for the smiles.
Paul;-} |
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| Reviewed by Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado |
5/16/2005 |
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absolutely delightful story, chanti'; very nice!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in america, karen lynn in texas. :D |
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| Reviewed by Carole Mathys |
5/15/2005 |
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What a delightful write Chanti filled with lots of smiles...thanks for sharing!
Peace and love, Carole |
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| Reviewed by Felix Perry |
5/15/2005 |
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Delightful story Chanti, this is my first day up out of sick bed so I was pleased to find one of your charming stories waiting to make me smile again.Well done,
Felix |
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| Reviewed by Regis Auffray |
5/15/2005 |
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| Dearest Chanti. I remember you telling me about the "eccentric" duck some time back. This is a delightful story told by a master storyteller. Thank you for sharing this gem. Much love to you always. Regis |
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| Reviewed by Mr. Ed |
5/15/2005 |
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| What a marvelous tale, about a most unusual, and most intriguing duck, Chanti. And since I truly love the 'underdogs or underducks' of the world, I know I would love Mucky Duck, as you so obviously do. And I'm very happy to hear that he has found both a good friend in Maggie, and a wonderful caretaker in you. |
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