We pulled up a few minutes later at Forks High School. I groaned internally. School, in any form, was the last place I wanted to spend my free time. I shot Charlie a confused look.
"The principal called and said there is a mother duck nesting in a bush in the courtyard. Her eggs hatched a few days ago and the teachers have been keeping an eye on them, making sure no kids mess with them. Well the duck apparently is very agitated today, honking and acting territorial. They think one of her babies fell down into the storm drain." He smiled at me side eyed and I grinned widely back to show I understood the joke as he continued. "We're here to check it out and see if we can help, possibly relocate them all to a safer location."
By the end of his synopsis I was already flying out of the car.
"No time to waste then! Let's go save the ducks!" I shouted over my shoulder, running playfully towards the door marked 'Front Office'. I stopped and waited for him to catch up.
Charlie and I were both chuckling when we walked into the small warm building. A red haired elderly woman stood up as soon as she saw us and rushed around the desk, her long skirt swishing side to side over her white tennis shoes.
"Charlie! I'm so glad you're here. Our poor duck friend has been in distress all morning but Dennis didn't want to bother you. I told him it was really important- thank you so much for agreeing with me."
Charlie smiled warmly down at her. "Of course Darlene you know I'm here for our whole community, even the feathered folk. This here is Leah Clearwater, she's riding along with me today for a college essay she's writing about small town police work. I hope you don't mind her helping me out."
She waved her hand, " O'course not dear, we are going to need all hands on deck, momma duck has quite the attitude today. Now follow me and I'll show you where she's at."
Class was in session so the outdoor halls surrounding the varias buildings were empty. We followed Darlene, the rustle of our footsteps and Charlie's gear echoing off of the lockers. We came up to a small open courtyard, with two picnic benches in the middle surrounded by thick dark green bushes. I heard a loud screeching HONK. Charlie and I followed the sound around the outer edge of the bushes slowly and carefully, him leading the way and me peeking out from behind him.
There she was, and yes she definitely looked pissed. Momma Duck was solid white and big, almost as big as a goose. Her tiny puff ball babies crowded around her feet anxiously. In front of her partially covered by the thick bush was a storm grate, and she was squawking directly at it. Charlie started forward towards the grate but Momma Duck was not having that. She charged at him immediately, puffing out her chest and flapping her wings in clear warning.
"We're gonna have to get her and the other babies out of here before we try to save Little Timmy." I said, Charlie chuckled at the inside joke we now shared.
"Unfortunately I don't think we have tranq darts in her size." He said with a pondering look on his face.
"Actually I think I have a better plan." I turned to Darlene. "Could you help me find some supplies?"
Charlie looked at me wide eyed, I would guess surprised by my take charge attitude. I just grinned back and he put his hands up.
"Okay kid we'll try it your way first."
I rattled off items I needed and Darlene raced us to various parts of the school to collect them. We were back in the courtyard 15 minutes later setting up. I turned an empty trash can upside down and balanced it on a ruler that I had already connected to a long piece of string. I baited the trap with a handful of croutons, baby corn, and lettuce from the cafeteria salad bar- placed directly onto the upside down lid of the can. Then we all slipped around the corner hoping Momma Duck would get hungry and wander over.
But of course in that same moment the bell rang.
Charlie and Darlene, or Ms. Cope as I heard the students refer to her, immediately jumped into action, each taking a place on either side of the hallway to divert traffic. A few people tried to linger and watch but they were quickly shooed off to class. Once everyone was clear, and we were once more huddled silently out of sight, Momma Duck relaxed enough to catch sight of our offerings. Slowly, so slowly, she wandered over to the pile. Once her babies were tightly in place around her feet and I was sure nobody would get squished I yanked hard on the string and the trash can came down onto its lid, effectively trapping the whole family.
I jumped up and threw my fist in the air triumphantly. "Ha! Got 'em!"
Charlie and Darlene were both equally excited and also impressed that my plan had worked so well. Charlie and I ran over and he carefully poked some holes in the sides and top of the plastic can with his Swiss army knife.
"It's okay Momma you don't know it but we're here to help." I said reassuringly, giving the top of the can a few soft pats. She continued honking angrily. I looked down into the storm drain and sure enough there was the little puffball causing all the trouble, only about a foot down. I knew I could grab him easily.
"Charlie, do you and Ms. Cope want to go load those guys up and I'll meet you out there with Little Timmy?" I said, already ripping a couple rectangular flaps off of a cardboard box I had grabbed during our earlier supply run.
Carefully they both grabbed the can from the bottom, holding the lid (and about 6 or 7 ducks) in place. They started slowly inching down the long hall in unison and I failed to stifle the laugh that burst out of my mouth at their expense.
I laid down and set a cardboard block up on either side of the drain so Timmy couldn't make a run for it. Then I lowered my arm into the grate, cooing reassurances.
"What on earth are you doing?" A boy's voice said from behind me. I rolled my eyes even though he couldn't see.
"Obviously making friends with the monster in the storm drain, duh." I said, sarcasm dripping off of every word. My fingers brushed against soft downy feathers and Timmy peeped in protest. Clearly my mental ruler was off and he was further down than I had originally thought. I retracted my arm and rolled into a sitting position. The boy was luckily still standing there. His eyes were wide in his pale face, but he was smiling so I must not have offended him too badly. Good thing too because I needed his help.
"I don't know if you've seen It but I'm fairly sure the message was to avoid the monsters hanging out in storm drains." He chuckled darkly and I couldn't help but smile. I mentally noted that he was tall and thin with long arms and legs. Perfect.
"Can I borrow your arm?" I asked tactlessly. The clock was ticking and I wanted to hurry so Momma Duck could be free of her temporary prison. His eyes widened again with confusion and I noticed now that they were a very strange color, like pools of melted gold. He wasn't agreeing fast enough so I gestured to the grate impatiently.
"Uhm, sure. Did you drop something?" He asked while walking over to a picnic table to set his bag down.
"No, Little Timmy fell down the well all on his own actually." I laughed and he looked at me like I had two heads, which only made me laugh harder.
I stifled my laughter by clearing my throat. "Okay seriously though. There's a baby duck down there." I clarified, wiping the moisture that had now accumulated in the corners of my eyes from laughing at my own ridiculous behavior.
The clarification didn't help the way I had assumed it would. If anything he looked even more confused and hesitant.
"Okay that part really wasn't a joke there is a scared baby duck down in this grate and a very angry Momma Duck waiting for me to return him to her. My arms aren't quite long enough and yours appear to be. So can you help?" I asked, getting impatient. Timmy chirped down below as if to verify my claim, and I gestured towards the grate again like see? I'm not crazy.
He huffed something under his breath that I didn't catch and lowered himself down next to me. He peered into the grate and little Timmy peeped helplessly, suddenly terrified. I eyed the boy wearily as he sighed sadly and reached his arm into the grate. Timmy went bazurk, running this way and that to dodge the boys hand. I was grateful for my foresight in blocking any available exits.
"There there small fuzzy thing-come here now please." He muttered, his brow furrowed in concentration. Ever so gently his hand closed around the duckling, pulling him up and out of the grate and placing him in my hands all in one smooth motion. I cradled the little baby against my chest and smiled warmly at his savior.
"Thanks." I said, before jumping up and striding excitedly down the hallway to reunite the happy family.
Charlie and I pulled up to the small pond he had told me they stock for the yearly fishing derby put on for kids. It had a nice path around it with lots of bushes, and would be the perfect spot for Momma Duck to raise her family. We unloaded the improvised duck trap carefully out of the back of the cruiser and then removed the can from off of the lid. Momma Duck had settled down, and now she looked around her taking in her new home. Once she saw the water she started waddling toward it making happy quacks of approval, all her babies in toe. I bent my head down and gave him a small kiss on top of his soft head, and then added little Timmy to the back of the line. Charlie wandered over to a nearby bench, smiling as he plopped down and let out a long sigh. I walked over and sat down next to him, watching triumphantly as the trail of ducks disappeared into a tall patch of cattails.
After a while he broke the silence. "You know you did really good today, kid. I didn't mind having you around one bit."
"It was fun. I can see why you love your job." I responded, staring over the pond at the picturesque orange and pink sky.
"You would make a great cop." He said. I turned to look at his face now to see if he was joking but he looked sincere.
"Hm." I said, turning the idea around in my head.
"You could always ride along with me again next week, if you want. Hard to get a real feel for things after only one day."
I had gotten more than enough for my essay but I couldn't help but like the idea of more days like today. I nodded enthusiastically and a wide grin stretched across Charlie's face. He ruffled my hair and stood up, walking back towards his cruiser.
"Time to take you home, Deputy."
I laughed but my chest swelled with pride. It had a ring to it, gotta admit.