The Missing Duck

Early in the morning, I’ve noticed a lonely male duck (called drake) in the swimming pool at my apartment building. The drake has a graceful long-necked with dark green color head, his chest is dark brown while his entire body has a mixture of brown and white color and also he has a long yellow beak. While leaving my apartment at 5:50 in the morning, the drake had his eyes closed and he was standing still in the water, sleeping.

Every evening before I come home from work, the female duck (called duck) used to land on top of the swimming pool by sliding into the water, at exactly 6:30 pm. And she spent the remaining daylight and nighttime with her companion, standing shoulder-to-shoulder just like Lucy & Desi. During the windy days, they both fly away together in the opposite direction of the swimming pool. The female duck also has a graceful long-necked, long yellow beak but her entire body has a mixture of brown and white color with black spots on the back. I’ve learned something in my observation, that the color of the drake is more beautiful comparing to the female duck. I think in the animal kingdom the male has to be the gorgeous one to attract the female species.

The swimming pool has become their safe place to nest. One evening I saw the duck and the drake facing at each other, they were quacking their heads off, like they were fighting or arguing about something. Now there’s no sign of the female duck anywhere. What had happened to her? Could it be a brief separation or a divorce in process? Is that possible?

I could imagine their conversation going like this:

DUCK: What do you mean you need some space?

DRAKE: I would like to rest when I come home.

DUCK: I just want to swim with you, and spend time together quacking.

DRAKE: I know my Duckling. But I’m tired. Can we do it some other time?

DUCK: But you always say that, I need some romance in our marriage.

DRAKE: Can you stop nagging for a moment!

DUCK: Nagging? Nagging? – Her beak started to fire up and her voice rose up.

DRAKE: Yes. I… I mean no. – Drake shivered his head, confused.

DRAKE: You know I love you very much. But you’re suffocating me.

DUCK: Suffocating you! – The duck can feel her yellow beak firing up even more, so she walked away from him, pacing back and forth frustrated and finally she said.

DUCK: I won’t be nagging you anymore. You can have all the space you want, see if I care. – Then the female duck took off, going someplace where she’s appreciated.

DRAKE: Don’t go! – She’ll be back. She just needs to cool off. – So he thought.