Walter was in the bus when a lady, who was carrying a live duck under her arm, boarded it.
The lady was tubby and had red cheeks with a hearty smile.
The bus driver, like the other passengers, could not believe what the lady was actually carrying!
But everyone was polite enough not to stare at her. Walter though, gave in to his temptation and giggled.
The lady settled herself on a seat and placed her duck by her feet.
Walter was surprised at how well-behaved the duck was in public.
It actually settled at the lady's feet and was about to doze off when a curious and naughty child poked at it with his finger.
Startled, the duck gave a
loud quack and began flapping its wings along the bus aisle. Obviously,
this did not happen often because the lady seemed to be shocked that her duck could react in that manner.
She tried to calm it down but it just continued to flap and quack.
When the lady tried to pick it up and clasp it under her arm, it scrambled from its place and
waddled up and down the aisle.
The amused children on the bus screamed in delight to see this unusual sight.
Walter soon gathered that the duck's name was 'Chi-Chio' from the lady's constant calling.
Some helpful passengers tried to catch the duck but that
only made the situation worse. The duck thought that they were trying to hurt it and it attempted to fly!
When the commotion got out of hand, the bus driver pulled over
by the roadside so that everyone could calm down. Walter thought that it was very good of the bus driver
not to shout at the lady for all that she had caused. Soon, the duck was under the lady's arm again and the bus
continued on its journey. Two stops later, the lady alighted but the passengers,
including Walter, still could not stop staring. |