Duckilocks and the Three Domes

Once upon a time there lived a little waterfowl known as Duckilocks. One day Duckilocks was out visiting his friends in Milwaukee when he decided to go for a short fly. He wandered around the area, checking out breweries and Harley Davidson, when he came across a strange sight. Three domes were rising from the land, standing like giant scoops of glass enticing Duckilocks on.

"What's this?" he asked, "Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, eh? Sounds interesting. Let's check it out."

So he went on in.

The first dome was a large open space that was very warm. It was dry too, just like a desert. Inside was very quiet, and for a moment, Duckilocks thought he could hear a coyote howling in the distance. So he his amongst some rocks.

Duckilocks began to feel thirsty so he decided to try flying a little and see what else was in the dome. He flapped around for a while and did not see any water. He sound found a green cushion and went to land on it so he could figure out what he was going to do next.

"Ow!" he exclaimed after he landed. "Something pricked me." 

He had landed on a cactus.  Duckilocks decided to leave as he found this dome to be too pointy.

Still thirsty, Duckilocks went on to the second dome. It was filled with large green leafy plants, like ferns and deciduous trees. and most importantly a stream. Water! Duckilocks quickly ran over to the bridge and stuck his beak in the cool stream. Finally, he was happy and hopped up on the railing to get a look around.

Al these forest plants reminded him of when he goes White Water rafting - all that Maine wilderness to explore. All those places for a little duck to get lost in.

Now that he was not thirsty anymore, Duckilocks heard a rumbling in his stomach. "I'm hungry," he realized. It had been too long since he had last eaten. He looked around for something good for a little duck to eat, when suddenly he spied a feeder full of birdseed. He immediately flapped over and started happily eating. But soon he heard a loud squawk. it was the family of birds whose feeder it was. They swooped and chattered at him until he was forced to flee.

He decided to leave the second dome because it was too noisy.

He moved on to the third dome. This one was like a strange joyous land, all done up in red and greens. He had found the Christmas dome. Still afraid of the squawking birds, he flew towards the brightly colored plants in the center of the dome and settled amongst the poinsettias. There his orange and green coloring blended in with his surroundings. He was safe.

But he was still hungry. To the side he noticed a large house. It was a gingerbread house! "That would be good to eat," he thought, "All nice and sugary." So he flapped over to the house and alit on the decorative trim. He turned toward the house and opened his beak wide.

"Ow!" he cried as he tried to bite the gingerbread only to discover it was really made of wood. "I guess I'm not going to get to eat this after all," he sadly observed.

But he was still full of the holiday spirit infectious in the dome. Fluttering around, he was a welcome sign and a lovely green wreath. "What a great place to perch for a while and think," he said. So he lightly set himself atop of the wreath to greet visitors with a hearty "Merry Christmas" in the spirit of the area.

One of the managers came over and asked him to stop quacking. Ducks, it seems, were not thought of as "Christmas-like" and he was going to disturb the arboretum patrons. Sadly, Duckilocks decided to leave third dome because it was not friendly enough.

On his way out, he stopped by the gift shop. There two women became friendly to him, giving him birdseed and water, and cooing over what a cute little duck he was. Duckilocks began to quack to them "Merry Christmas," even though he was not still in the Christmas dome, and it was weeks after Christmas in the rest of the world. The women were delighted at his quacking, smiling and encouraging him all along.

Duckilocks decided he might stay here for a while. It felt juuuuuust right.

The End.

Photos courtesy of Russ Minton

Last Updated December 1998