An Unusual Occurrence
Brian Young, the manager of a small grocery store in Hertfordshire, U.K., described the situation as truly odd. He could still remember the first day the ducks arrived.
The store had a strict policy against allowing wild animals inside, and it was Brian's responsibility to ensure they stayed out.
The Duck's Entrance
However, Brian had no idea how bizarre his day would become when a duck casually walked into the store. It roamed as if it were a regular customer, though Brian was certain it had never been there before.
Curious, Brian approached the duck, watching as it strolled down the aisles. Then, he began to notice something unusual about its behavior.
The Duck's Search
It soon became clear that the duck was searching for something. But what could it possibly be looking for?
Brian decided to observe a little longer before intervening, but his growing curiosity would soon lead him to realize that he had just made a major mistake.
After the Duck’s Find
Once the duck found whatever it had been searching for, Brian stood there, stunned and pale. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he pulled out his phone.
His hands trembled as he snapped a picture, glancing nervously over his shoulder. No one else would understand what he was seeing.
Brian’s Reputation
Brian Young was the friendly face most customers encountered during their Saturday grocery runs. He was always ready with a smile and eager to assist in any way.
The store was his pride, and under his watch, it ran smoothly. The owner trusted him completely to manage everything efficiently, but Brian would soon face an unexpected challenge.
A Skilled Problem Solver
Brian was no stranger to problem-solving. Whether it was a minor stock issue or a customer complaint, he handled it all with ease.
He had built a reputation as the community’s go-to problem solver, always quick to resolve any issue. But one day, he'd face a problem unlike any he'd encountered before.
A Well-Stocked Store
One of Brian’s greatest achievements was building an impressive inventory. Thanks to his efforts, his store carried unique items that other grocery stores didn’t, attracting customers from all over.
From specialty cereals to various dietary supplements, he made sure the store was stocked with everything customers needed. Little did he know, this would play a role in his upcoming dilemma.
A Strict Store Policy
The reason the store was so well-kept was because of the strict adherence to policies. One of the most important rules was that wild animals were never allowed inside.
After all, no customer wants to see a squirrel nibbling on produce or a pigeon pecking at bread while shopping. While it wasn’t unheard of, it was something Brian worked hard to prevent.
Animal Trouble
Brian was well aware of the occasional animal problems that plagued local stores. But, like with all challenges, he was quick to take care of them. Having worked at the store for ten years, he’d seen it all.
From raccoons and squirrels nibbling on fresh produce to pigeons eyeing the bread, Brian thought he was prepared for any animal-related issue. But he was about to discover just how wrong he was.
Always Available
Though Brian worked in the store every day, he was always on call, even after hours. There was rarely a time when he could fully disconnect from work, as problems always seemed to arise when he wasn’t there.
And, just like every other time, Brian had just finished washing his dishes at home when the phone rang. Another issue had come up at the store.
An Animal
The staff member that had called him just explained that another animal had come into the store. But the matter was complicated this time. Brian had no idea what he meant but told him he'd be there as soon as he could.
He dried his hands, grabbed his car keys, and drove directly to the store. But he wasn't ready for what he was about to find.
A Duck
When Brian got to the store, he walked through the main entrance and looked around. The staff pointed towards the milk, poultry, and eggs aisle. He marched down the aisle and finally laid eyes on the intruder.
It was a duck waddling down at a slow pace. It looked as if it owned the place. He'd never seen it in there before, and soon it would be gone. But he hadn't seen the complicating factor yet.
Not Just Any Duck
As Brian marched to the duck with the intent to simply grab it and walk it out of his store, he saw something that made him stop in his tracks.
He noticed something about the duck that he could only see now that he was ten feet away from the animal. It made his blood run cold.
A Special Find
Brian was grateful no one had taken action in his absence. He now saw the complicated issue that his assistant had told him about on the phone.
He assumed that most people would just think that they had an ordinary duck in their store, but that wasn't the case at all. Brian knew that from the moment he saw its coat.
Having His Dad To Thank
Brian knew that he had his father to thank. His old man was a duck hunter and collector. All through Brian's childhood, he'd remember his father adding stuffed ducks to his wall.
Some of the expertise had rubbed off on Brian, and he could identify many different duck species from the U.K. That was the problem with this duck.
Confirming His Suspicions
Brian had to be sure he was right before taking action. He shakily took a photo of the duck and sent it to his dad with the caption, "Is this what I think it is?"
He put his phone away and looked over his shoulder. No one else except him and his assistant knew anything about waterfowl. A minute later, he got a reply from his dad. It simply read, "YES."
A Silver Appleyard
Brian wiped the sweat off of his forehead. He now knew that he was dealing with a Silver Appleyard. That name might not mean much to the common folk of his grocery store and the greater Hertfordshire area.
But it meant something to Brian. He knew he couldn't remove the bird now. He called the only number he could think of.
The Rare Breed Survival Trust
Brian called the number for the Rare Breed Survival Trust. They would know what to do. But the representative he spoke to gave him the bad news.
They told him that it was very odd that the duck was in his store. It was unlikely that it was looking for food. More than likely, it had a nest nearby. That meant he'd have to find it before moving forward.
Letting The Bird Come And Go
Brian had no choice but to let the bird come and go as it pleased. He hated the idea of an animal walking around in his store. But until he found that nest, he would have to bear through it with gritted teeth.
The bird would leave the store shortly afterward, and Brian felt like he could rest easy. But he had no idea this was only the beginning.
A Daily Routine
Brian started getting a phone call every day about the bird. It had taken a liking to the store and would come in every day. But what was so special about his store?
Every day, Brian would come in and follow the bird around. If only he could figure out where its nest was, then he would be free. But then, a harrowing thought crossed his mind.
What If It Was In The Store
His blood ran cold at the thought of it. "What if its nest is somewhere in my store?" He muttered to himself. He couldn't stand for that.
He kept his eyes on the bird. It would betray the location of its children soon, or so he thought.
The Same Aisle
Every day, the endangered animal would walk down the same aisle. It was the milk, poultry, and egg aisle. Brian was at his wit's end at this point.
It had been a week of making sure no customer stole or harmed the animal. His reputation was at stake. What if the locals thought that this was the standard procedure?
Getting Sick And Tired
At this point, Brian was sick and tired of the animal. He understood that it was endangered, but he was getting close to just calling animal control and making it their problem.
After all, he had his livelihood to look out for. His store wasn't a petting zoo until one day when he was following the bird it actually was.
A Different Reaction
The bird was doing the same thing it did every day. But this time, a little girl and her mom were shopping in the same aisle as the bird.
Brian was ready for the same comments that the customers normally passed. But on this occasion, it would be an entirely different reaction than he didn't expect.
A Quack!
Brian nervously watched as the duck walked past the mother and daughter. The mother noticed the animal but ignored it. That was better than complaining in Brian's mind. But the daughter's reaction was something he didn't anticipate.
"Look, mommy, a quack!" The girl said as she stared at the animal. But as she approached the endangered animal, Brian tried to stop her. But it was too late.