The Ducks Who Needed One More Minute

Story Time at Mayapple Farm – The Ducks Who Needed One More Minute

Every evening, like clockwork, the ducks begin their journey home from the creek.

Some take it seriously.

The on time gang

They head in early, no fuss, no drama—straight to the coop like responsible little citizens.

And then… there are the others.

Tonight’s stragglers floated just past their usual exit, hugging the bank like they had somewhere important to be—anywhere but home. I could see them thinking it: just one more minute.

When they spotted me walking their direction, they didn’t panic.

Oh no.

They casually turned… and headed upstream.

Upstream.

The ones who needed one more minute

As if there was something terribly urgent they had forgotten up there. As if I might believe they had not, in fact, just skipped their turn on purpose.

They paddled hard too—committed to the story.

Eventually, with the current against them and their little adventure complete, they circled back and made their way in—like nothing had happened.

The responsible ones were already settled.

The others arrived with attitude.

And me?

I sat in my chair with a beer, watching the whole negotiation play out, reminded of something simple:

Everyone comes in eventually.

Some just need one more look around first.

— Mayapple Farm