A highlight of baseball games for Norah is to play at the nearby playground. I don't always like to, because then I am away from the game. On Wednesday was such the occasion, and Norah went to the playground with some of the other girls and parent. I went to join them after a bit. On our walk back to the game a lady asked us if by chance we had seen a Mother Duck anywhere. It's not everyday you hear that question. She was holding a baby duckling, who happened to waddle right up to her and seemed to follow her. She was concerned for it, and could not bring it to the forest preserve because she had to work the next day.
Now I was completely available the next day, however; I was going to be car-less the next day due to car repairs. But I didn't let that stop me! I decided that we had to take the duckling. I figured we would drive Eric to work, take the duckling to the forest preserve that takes orphaned or injured animals, then return the car. We named it Pitch.
The kids loved having a duckling overnight, they wanted it to sleep in their room; it did not. We only gave it water. Norah set up the bin with her doll blanket and stuffed goose. The duckling actually climbed all over and snuggled next to the stuffed goose. When we turned the light off and took the goose out for night, did Pitch ever squawk. So, the light stayed on and the goose stayed in.
Eric joined us for the morning. We brought the duckling to our sitter early in the morning to show Norah's friends the duckling. And then we took the duckling to it's new home at the forest preserve. Norah was quite sad to say good-bye. We learned that it would take 60 days before Pitch could be released to a natural setting. Pitch will be taken to a forest preserve with lots of water when he/she is ready along with other ducklings.
At random times throughout the day Norah stated that she really missed Pitch.
I believe this will be a summer highlight not forgotten.
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