Featherizer

I'm still in a bit of a shocked state as I just witnessed an atrocious event. For those of you who are easily disturbed, please refrain from reading this post.

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I was walking home from the HAPN meeting today having just missed the bus. I was walking along Columbia, just outside of campus by the railroad tracks. I spotted a mother duck and her ducklings walking across the street. They were extremely cute and small and I couldn't help but smile. A car drove by, but dodged them just in time and I couldn't help but cringe as he neared them. I was helpless to do anything to save them as the limit is 60 km/h. As the car passed and no "squish" noises were heard, I let out a sigh. However, fate is a cruel mistress and she would have another car test the fates of those ducks. Fate was not so lenient this time. The car spotted the family of ducks a fraction of a second too late and all that was heard on that quiet street was the screeching of breaks, a popping noise, and then silence. The driver, realizing the devastation he just imposed, scurried away. A flurry of feathers trailed behind him as if trying to chase him down. Like I said earlier, I cannot describe the state I was in except for this: shocked. An uneasy wrenching of my stomach occurred and my eyes could not avert themselves away from the darkened mass of down. The worst had come to that family of ducks.

Not knowing what to do, I walked home in silence, mourning the loss of innocent animals. My readers, I hope that you would sympathize with me and give a moment of silence for the ducklings and mother duck. I hope none of you are too offended. I meant to put this post as a warning to prevent something like this from happening again.