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Angie watched the three ducks floating in the pond. She thought they looked happy, and their little quacks reinforced that. Lowering herself to the ground, she said, “You ducks are too cute.” Of course, the chickens and cows were cute as well, but ducks were her favorite.
She lay back on the ground, not caring about the dirt and tiny rocks that would wind up in her curly hair. Emily was flashing into her mind. Before she had upgraded her coop and gotten ducks of her own, Emily had gifted her a duck feather.
“Please come to visit today,” Angie said out loud to herself. “I guess I could go to town, but –”
“Angie?”
She shot up from the ground to see Emily entering the farm property and walking towards the pond. “Who were you talking to?”
“Oh, you know, just chatting with the ducks,” said Angie.
This wasn’t meant with judgement as she smiled in an understanding way. “I talk to my parrot a lot. Sometimes birds have a lot of wisdom if you understand them.”
Glancing back at the ducks, they started to quack away even more. Maybe they were agreeing. Or they could just want food. Angie knew that now would be a good time to make her and Emily’s relationship official. But she hadn’t bought the damn bouquet yet. Week by week, she had been gifting various minerals. Topaz, aquamarine, jade, and others. And Emily loved every single one.
Still, I should have gotten the freakin’ bouquet! Angie thought to herself.
“Angie, is there something you wanted to tell me?” Emily asked, pushing a strand of her blue hair out of her face.
“There is. I just need the timing to be perfect.” There was suddenly a chorus of loud quacks from the ducks.
“I think the ducks have something to say.” Emily’s face lit up with anticipation.
The birds seemed to be staring at Angie now. It was kind of weird, though she knew Emily was right, and she was starting to get the message. So she stood up quickly. But she wouldn’t get to say anything as her foot landed on a small rock and sent her falling back into the water.
“Oh no! Angie!” She could hear Emily’s faint voice as her head went underwater.
Now this is embarrassing. As fast as she could, she shot her head up and gasped for air. Also, this water is gross!
“Are you okay?” Emily was kneeling by the pond, holding out her hand.
After coughing for a bit, Angie composed herself enough to say, “Yeah, I’m all good,” before taking the hand. She was lifted out of the water, and Emily pulled her into a tight hug. She didn’t seem concerned about getting her own clothes all wet.
“Be careful,” Emily said, kissing her on the cheek. Louder quaking sounded behind them.
Angie felt heat rush to her face. Now was definitely the time to make things official. “Emily,” she said. “We’ve been talking for, like, a year. Right?”
“I think so.” Emily’s cheeks were getting a little pink. “We met each other in Spring.”
The three ducks suddenly got out of the water and stood around Angie’s feet. But she ignored them. “Even though I don’t have flowers right now and I just fell into a gross pond, would you like to date me? I can’t stop thinking about you!”
“Of course I will.” Once again, Emily pulled her into an embrace. “I knew this moment was coming. It was in my horoscope.”
That made Angie want to laugh, but instead, she gave a small kiss on the lips. “Let’s go inside. I’ll show you around the farmhouse.”
“I’d love that.” They took one another’s hands, then headed towards the porch. But they stopped for a minute to look back at the ducks. “You can see it in their eyes,” Emily said. “The wisdom. They knew we were meant to be.”
Angie looked at the beady, knowing eyes of her ducks. “Huh, I guess you’re right.” And they went into the farmhouse together.