The Plight of Little Straggler

I hear the sad, high pitched cry of a little baby duckling in the courtyard outside my window.

Let me explain…

A mama duck comes every spring and lays her eggs in our courtyard.  When the eggs hatch, Ann from our church, opens up doorways in the church building so that the mama can get her little flock out of the courtyard—where there is no food or water—to the greater outdoors.  When they get out of the courtyard they usually head straight for McDonalds.

This morning all the little ducklings got out with their mama except one who straggled and didn’t get out with the rest of the group.  Ann caught the little straggler and took him outside to reunite him with his mama and siblings but by then they were gone.  She looked high and low but couldn’t find them.

Not knowing where else to put him, Ann, put Little Straggler (that’s my name for him, now, “Little Straggler”) back in the courtyard.

So here I sit listening to Little Straggler crying.  (That’s Little Straggler in the photo.)

I’ve stuck my head out the window several times and said to him, “You have to be quiet.  Your noise is going to attract something that will want to eat you.”  But he doesn’t listen to me.  (It’s almost as if he doesn’t speak English.)  In fact, I thought he would at least get scared and be quiet while I was talking.  But he doesn’t.  While I’m telling him to be quiet, he keeps crying.

If you’re thinking, “Oh no.  Poor Little Straggler.  I feel so sad for him.”

Good.

I’m feeling sorry for the little guy and I wanted a few others to join in with me.

NOTE:  I’ll keep you all updated on Little Straggler’s status.