CHAPTER TEN

Joe turns again and looks down on the ground behind him. There on the ground just a few inches from his feet, are three bright yellow ducklings, sitting in the grass just staring up at him.

"They followed you the first trip, right behind, all in a row. They stayed behind you and when you turned to go back, they followed again. And here they are again. They think you are their father or something." Bill is laughing at Joe so hard, he nearly has tears in his eyes.

Joe looks at the ducklings, hating to encourage Bill, but he laughs also. It does look ridiculous, he thinks, but no one else will see it. Joe moves a few feet and the ducks get right behind him again. He turns around, but no matter what he does, they keep right behind him, looking up at him like he is their leader.

"Now what, Bill? How do I get rid of them?" Bill still laughing, suggests to Joe,

"Just go back to the water and shoo them in when you get there."

Joe heads back to the canoe, the little fellows right on his heels. Bill is still laughing, wishing the guys at work could see Sergeant Friday with his brood of waddling ducks following him every where he goes. He reaches again for the camera, just one more, he thinks, they have to see this to believe it.

Joe tries to get them to go back in the water, flapping his hands at them, but to no avail. They get close, but as soon as he tries to leave, they line up, ready to go. He finally gives up, and grabs the last of the gear, some boat cushions, and heads back to camp. He goes a few yards, then turns to look, sure enough, there they are. He just shakes his head, and continues on. They'll get tired of this soon enough, he hopes. He wonders where their Mother is.

Bill is done with the fish, and cleaning up. Joe starts the charcoal in the grill to get ready to cook them. It is already after Noon, the time is going pretty fast. It will be time to head home soon. He's more than ready to get back to civilization, refrigerators, regular stoves, and real plates, not paper. Best of all a bathroom that doesn't require walking a half a block to reach, and is inside! And a bed I don't have to blow up first. He sits at the table waiting for the coals to heat. The ducklings still sitting at his feet, looking up at him like they expect him to say something wise.

He lights a cigarette, keeping an eye on them, so they don't go near the fire pit. Bill sits down next to him with the last of his beer.

"Watch this guy," he says to the ducks, pointing at Bill, "get too close to that fire, you'll find yourself glazed."

All three turn their heads to look at Bill, then move just a little closer to Joe. They both start laughing at this.

"Didn't know you spoke duck, Joe! They seem to understand you. I've never seen anything like this. Ducks, fish, rabbits and even a bat or two! I half expect to find you sitting here with a bear, his arm around you, sharing a beer. You remind me of Dr. Doolittle." Joe just shrugs his shoulders and gives a smile.

"What can I say, if you got it, you got it. Looks like I got it."

The coals have finally gotten to the right temperature, so Joe lays the bass on the grill. They have some salad left, and some bread. It's a good lunch, and they both eat their fill. Joe eats a few more lemon bars that Eileen sent. The ducks are watching his every move, and he starts to feel sorry for them, thinking they might be hungry. He doesn't have a clue what a duck eats. The

only experience he has had with ducks had him the one doing the eating. He takes some bread and tears it up, tossing to them. They quickly grab it up, and gobble it down. Bill is watching this and tells Joe,

"I've got a few garlic nut butters left. Want to give them some of that?"

"I just want to get rid of them, Bill, not kill them!" snaps Joe.

Bill holds his hands up in front of him in a position of defense.

"Calm down, Daddy!" he says laughing, "I won't hurt your kids! Always wanted you to have a family Joe, now you got three, and all blondes! Must take after their Mother."

"Yeah, and I wonder where she is." He looks toward the lake hoping to see her. "I'll be right back." he gets up heading for the pine trees and out house. His new found family right behind him all the way. Bill watching and wishing he had brought the movie camera with him. He could sell tickets to this!

Joe finds the little house and steps inside, while the ducks settle on the grass in front of the door. Maybe they'll go while he is in there, he's thinking. A few minutes later he opens the door, and they all rise to follow him back to camp. As he walks off, he looks over his shoulder to see if they are keeping up. At this rate they will be following me down the highway right back to Los Angeles!

Bill is busy in camp packing things up. He has emptied the tent and put most of the fishing gear back into the car.

"We need to go down and get the canoe, Joe. I see you still have your kids with you."

"Yeah, I know. What am I going to do about them?"

"Let's go get the canoe, maybe we will find the Mother while we're there. Got names for them, Joe?"

"Yeah, Larry, Moe & Curly. Was thinking of Huey, Luey and Dewy, but that seemed too obvious. Kind of silly."

"Yep, you have to watch that, Joe, you wouldn't want to get silly." Bill nods his head, suppressing a grin.

They head off down to the lake with Larry, Moe and Curly sticking close to Joe. They seem to be giving Bill wide berth, not taking any chances I guess, he thinks. I got smart ducks, he sighs, but I wish they would go home.

They pull the canoe up onto the shore, and just stand for a bit looking over the water for Mama duck. Nothing in sight. The ducks wander to the waters' edge so they can drink. They go in a bit but come right out again if Joe so much as moves an inch. Then they begin quacking, getting louder all the time. Suddenly, out of nowhere it seems, Mama duck comes swooping through the water with her wings flapping like crazy. Joe and Bill back away from the waters edge, but she keeps at them with her wings and beak, pecking at Bills feet making him back away. Both are so startled they don't know what to do. Finally she goes over to her ducklings, pecking at them like she is checking for harm. She uses her beak and wings to gather them together, and by some unknown signal to Bill and Joe, she swims away, her babies following her.

"Why did she attack me?" says Bill. "I didn't steal her kids! You, she leaves alone!"

Joe watches them swim away, he almost hates to see them leave. He lights a cigarette and smokes it while they disappear around the shoreline.

"Joe, you OK?" asks Bill.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Glad the mother found them though. Was starting to think I'd be living with three ducks when we got back."

They turn and pick up the canoe heading back to the camp. They dismantle the tent and finish putting everything in the car. They dispose of all the trash so as not to attract animals. If there is one thing Joe does not want to do is attract anymore animals. He empties the canoe from all his cigarette butts and matches, dumping them in the pit. Looking around, everything seems in order, all belongings are in the car. They lift the canoe on top of the wagon and secure it with ropes.

"Well, I guess that's it Joe. Time to head home."

Joe looks around, just remembering all the things that happened. It was definitely a unique experience. He is kind of surprised to realize he really did have a good time. Bill walks up behind him and says,

"Here Joe, I want you to have this. You more than earned it this weekend." Bill was handing his fishing hat to Joe.

"Bill, no! I can't take that! That's special to you, and should one day go to your boys."

"I've got four boys Joe, and just one hat. They'd be happy for you to have it. And so would I."

He takes the hat and puts it on Joe's head.

"Looks good there pal, now you got memories too."

"Yeah, you're right, I do. Thanks." He just smiles, and gets in the car.

Bill was right, he'll never forget this trip.