“You said you’d do it. Do it!” Patty demanded.

First, Tanner stared at the mallard’s smooth, storm cloud body as the buoyant bird moved peacefully atop the stream. Then at its metallic green head – too exotic for grey Nova Scotia.

Patty offered the rock with urgency and repeated, “Do it!”

Joe Couture is a writer living in rural Nova Scotia. He writes for his health. If you want to connect with him, try here: @rjcouture.bsky.social.