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I was at the Duck Pond earlier today, feeding the spare and stale bread loaves I had collecting mold at my house to the ducks. The cool wind whipped through the field and across the lake as I scatted pieces to the mallards and caught the crumbs giving them distance to set them in the water rather than on the shore.

As I fed them I saw the largest mallard, whom I have taken to calling "King Duck" due to his regally emerald head and large stature in comparison to the others, come swimming up. I threw bread toward him but alas, the smaller duck grouped together forcibly and fought for the bread I had thrown. King Duck left, swimming the length of the shore to the opposite bank of the pond as I kept feeding the smaller ducks.

I attempt to feed every duck, breaking the bread somewhat evenly but no matter how hard I try, they still fight. They peck and dash and fight over every little bit of bread I throw. It leads me to wonder: Did I feed them all? Did some eat much more? Did some take from hungry ones?

I took a walk around the lake and came across King Duck. I fed him two pieces of bread. No other ducks interfered. It made me think, why fight over the small pieces, hurting others to get them when if you relax and go about your own way there may be a few slices just in the future.

Maybe that means something, maybe it means something just because I saw it that way. Maybe not.

Until next time.