Where Are The Ducks
First Version, Short Fiction
Let me start by saying the italicized, bold section was what I originally wrote for
at “Fifties by the Fire”. After writing it, I came up with two stories of short fiction. Here is the first version. I’m considering entering the second version in a contest. Either way, I will eventually post that one here too.At the end I have setup a poll to see if you would like me to continue with the story.
I hope you enjoy!
Jack gets into his truck to head to his kid’s house. It’s their monthly trip to go hunting. It hasn’t been easy for him. Jack and his ex-wife Tina got divorced six months ago. He didn’t think it would ever come to this. She told him she was tired of him always working late. She wondered if he was having an affair. He wasn’t having an affair, he assured her. His job as a marketing director took him many places. There were the trade shows and conferences he had to go to. They argued over his job so many times, he told her he could have bottled the air he expended and sold it for adding air to balloons.
As he pulled up to the house, he wondered why she got to keep it. They argued over that too. She told him she needed the house because she didn’t have any money to get a new place. He told her he would provide child support and give her some extra money but she had said no. He was still required to pay the child support since that was what the court had said. Divorces were messy and this one was particular messy.
He was told by her to never come to the door. But it was early in the morning and dark out. As he exited the truck, he glanced at some new bushes near the front door. Even though it was dark, he could see them plain as day. He didn’t know she was a gardener. He figured she got someone to help her.
He rang the doorbell and Tina answered the door.
“I told you never to come to the door. Don’t you ever listen?”
“It’s dark outside Tina. I don’t want the boys afraid.”
“You are something. I tell you this every time you do this. They’re not afraid.”
“How do you know? Have you ever asked them?”
“You just don’t get it, do you?”
“I didn’t know you were a gardener.”
“What do you mean?”
“I see you got some new plants,” he says pointing to the bushes.
“Grant planted those,” she says.
“Grant?”
“He’s a guy I’m seeing.”
“You’re seeing someone?”
“Yeah, is that okay with you? I didn’t know I had to get my ex’s permission.”
“You can do whatever you want to.”
“The kids will be out soon.”
The two stand on opposite sides of the door for a few awkward moments.
“So is this serious?” Jack asks.
“It’s none of your business.”
“It’s my business if you’re shacking up with him.”
“How is it your business?”
“I don’t want some dude being around the boys.”
“They’re fine.”
“What do you know about this guy?”
“Jack go back to your truck. I’ll send the kids out in a minute,” she says as she slams the door shut.
Jack wasn’t surprised that she slammed the door on him. He was shocked that she was seeing someone, although he thought it was probably good since they weren’t together anymore.
A few minutes later, the kids came running out the front door toward the truck. Jack exited the vehicle and gave them a hug. He helped them into the front passenger seat and they took off.
As he drove to their destination, the kids kept asking where they were going. Jack told them he was taking them to a new location they hadn’t been before. It was about twenty miles north of where they usually go. The kids were excited.
They drove through a fast food restaurant on the way to the area. With the kids having full stomachs, it was time to head to the woods. A friend of Jack’s had told him that they could hunt on his property. They pulled into the long driveway. The friend was going to be away for the day. He was given cart blanche of the property. His friend had given him the key to his house and told him if the kids needed to use the bathroom, to let them in.
He parked the truck at the end of the long driveway. He saw the area his friend had told him about to access, what his friend said was the perfect duck blind. They would have to walk about one mile through the woods. His friend owned 200 acres. Jack got the guns and other equipment out of the truck bed. The guns were too heavy for the kids to carry. They got to carry the ammunition.
As they crept closer to the duck blind, the kids started getting tired of walking. He told them, it wouldn’t be long now. As soon as he said that, he saw it. The duck blind was surrounded by camouflage and cut brush. It was more unique than he thought. His friend hadn’t told him that he had purchased a duck blind. He knew he had concocted one by himself by building it with wood. He didn’t know he had upgraded.
They crawled into the blind. Jack put the ammunition in the 3 shotguns. The kids had their own guns. Once that was done, they waited. And waited. And waited.
“Dad, how long do we have to sit before we’ll get some ducks?” asks Kenny.
“It shouldn’t take too long.”
“I’m tired of sitting here,” exclaims Bobby.
“Silence”, their father whispers.
He continues, “You don’t want to scare the ducks away.”
“They can hear us?”
“Yes, they can. Now quiet.”
Jack kept using the duck calls to attract the ducks. It was slow going.
Both kids had short attention spans. Bobby was seven and the most rambunctious of the two. Kenny was ten, more quiet and reserved but could surprise you with his quirkiness.
Jack took out his binoculars and looked out into the distance. He saw some birds that could be ducks. They were approaching them now.
“Okay boys, we might have some ducks coming this way,” he said.
“Alright!”, an excited Kenny said.
Jack aimed his shotgun at the birds and got a shot off. He saw the bird fall to the ground.
“You got one Dad!” exclaimed Bobby.
They waited to go retrieve it, so Jack could see if one of the boys could get one.
Twenty minutes later, they got another chance. There were a flock of birds coming in from the north. There must have been twenty birds. He thought this would be the best chance for one of them to get their prize. He told Bobby to aim toward the north and find the birds in his sights. He pulled the trigger.
“You got one,” his hyper-excited father opines.
“Yeah Dad, I finally nailed one,” Bobby says.
It had been three hours and they were all getting tired, so they decided to wrap it up. Kenny didn’t seem to be upset that he didn’t get to shoot any ducks.
They went and collected their two ducks and headed out of the woods. They stopped at the house and used the restrooms.
Jack had a look around his friend’s house. He had never been there before. He wasn’t a snoop but he was just curious. He observed the rooms by standing out in the hallways.
When he came to the office, he walked in. He didn’t know why he did but he wanted to look at his computer set up. He had papers all over the place. He was reminded that Walt was a mess at work too. He sat down at his desk to see all of the monitors. He had three monitors. He figured he worked at home too. Or maybe he was a gamer and he used all of the monitors for his gaming.
Then he noticed something on Walt’s calendar.
He read it aloud, “Saturday, Tina.”
Conclusion
I wanted to mention that I have no experience with duck hunting. The imagination can create amazing things. I researched a couple of things to make sure I got the terms correct.
As usual, I’m looking for any and all feedback on this act of fiction. Getting feedback helps me to learn what you think is good and what might need to be changed for future postings.
If you know anyone who loves fiction, please feel free to share this with them.
Until next time, happy reading.
-Matt
I like how you developed this story, Matthew! Great job! I could see it all happening very clearly in my mind. I’m interested to see how everything unfolds, if you choose to continue.
Thanks for mentioning Along the Hudson. I really appreciate it!
Ooooh, Walt and Tina....?! 😲 Nice work, Matt!