The Lame Duck

During one of our Sunday walks we came upon a duck.  This was no ordinary duck for it had lost the use of its webbed feet.  We found it just huddled in thick grass looking listlessly at passersby.  Seeing that the duck had sustained injuries far beyond repair, we thought he would like to rejoin his duck friends at the pond on 8th.  The only evasive maneuvers he could do was muster a few flaps of his wings to hop a few inches out of reach.  But, alas, he could not dodge me forever and I caught him mid flop.  

We proceeded to carry him the block distance from 7th to the pond on 8th.  Along the way a young couple approached us, the girl saying it was her life dream to pet a duck.  She patted it softly on the head and we told them the injuries and likely doom.  We continued onward.  Feeling sentimental, we had to get a picture with the lame duck friend before we set him free.  

The moment of freedom was short for this duck.  I had gently placed it next to the water where it had lost its balance and flopped head first into the water.  My attempts to save it were in vain but it did flop its wings to get its head above the water and managed to stay afloat.  It took some refreshing sips of water as if it had been parched for a time.  All seemed to be well until a duck friend speedily came to greet the newcomer.  

The duck friend then sadly proceeded to push our lame duck under the water.  We did not understand why but my thoughts go back to Dr. Nelson's Biology class about how you can tell if a species is successful in life.  You measure success if you can "survive and reproduce."  Our lame duck proved a threat to the other healthy ducks of the pond since the weak-spirited genes were frowned upon.  The only solution for the lame duck was to meet his end there at that moment.  

Perhaps the lame duck would serve as a fine meal for a local coyote or cougar if they were even in the neighborhood.  All we know is that we regretfully assisted in the circle of life by putting the lame duck back in the water.  So next time you see a lame duck at the side of the road that has lost the use of its legs, keep it away from the other ducks or it might meet its last moments at the side of a pond with its last sips before it is viciously pushed under the water.