They told me I couldn’t bring my emotional support duck to picture day. Well… I brought him anyway.
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Actually, I brought all eight of them. 🙃🐥
Because when you’ve got the kind of connection I have with my ducks—those soft, squishy, slightly ridiculous bundles of plush comfort—you don’t leave anyone behind. And certainly not for something as stressful as a formal photo op.
It started with one duck. Just one. A bright yellow, floppy-limbed little guy with big cartoon eyes and a permanently lopsided bill. From the moment I laid my paw on him, I knew we were bonded for life. He was there for me during thunderstorms, during those scary vacuum cleaner rampages, and even that one time the mailman actually walked up to the door. When you find someone—or something—that makes you feel safe, you hold on.
But here’s the thing about ducks… they tend to multiply. A few weeks later, another one showed up. Then another. Some bigger, some smaller. Some fluffier. One that’s so huge, I can barely curl my paw around his wing. They formed their own little flock, and I welcomed each one like a long-lost friend. It wasn’t just a collection anymore. It was a community. My very own duck tribe.
So when picture day rolled around and the humans said, “Just the dog, no props,” I tilted my head, gave them my best soulful stare, and gently nudged my favorite duck forward. “Just one?” I asked with my eyes. They laughed. They thought I was kidding.
But the joke’s on them.
Because this is my emotional support team. And picture day? It’s a big deal. You’ve got to sit still, hold a pose, look serious but approachable. You can’t do that kind of thing alone. You need backup. You need duck-shaped reassurance at your side—something soft to glance at when the pressure mounts or the camera clicks just a little too loud.
So I brought them. All of them. They sprawled across the carpet in varying degrees of squishiness—some upright and alert, others flopped over like they’d just woken up from a nap. We arranged ourselves in a perfect little tableau of cozy rebellion. The fireplace flickered behind us. The humans gasped, then laughed. And then, they took the photo.
And let me tell you… it turned out perfect.
Because this is me. All of me. The proud golden retriever. The slightly spoiled floof with a heart of gold. The guardian of the plush duck army. Picture day or not, this is who I am. And no rule or expectation is going to separate me from the things—and beings—that bring me comfort.
So yes, I brought my emotional support ducks to picture day. And I’ll do it again next year.
Because love is messy. Comfort is fluffy. And joy? Joy is duck-shaped.
🐶💛🦆
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