And Then There Were Nine

And Then There Were Nine

By: Laura B. Capizzano

It was a cool, spring morning; Monday, to be precise. The cloudy, manic, morning rush hour presented the typical mass of cars zooming by; all trying to get from point A to point B in the quickest manner possible. Some motorists were engaging in enlightening cell phone conversations; some were enjoying a delicious breakfast on-the-run and some, actually partaking in both activities; all the while navigating their vehicles toward their next destination. For me, that morning was a bit different than that of my fellow motorists.

I had just come from my Son's Junior High school where I drop him off at each and every day. With my 3 year old Lab/Border Collie mix in tow, (she takes the ride with me each day) I was heading home to finish tidying up before beginning my day. I pride myself on being a safe driver. While traveling at a speed of 40 miles per hour, heading North up Quentin Road, just past Euclid Avenue in Palatine, I happened upon a beautiful sight. A sight, I might add, that could have turned tragic, had I not been paying attention to the very road I had been traveling on. Fortunately, my Mother taught me to “Never be in such a hurry that (I) can't afford the time to stop and drink in the magic of (my) surroundings”.

Just in the nick of time, I saw a mother duck escorting her ducklings down off the curb. I assumed she was attempting her journey toward the lake of her choice where she would raise her young; Duck Camelot, if you will. However, the pilgrimage across Quentin Road at rush hour began immediately to the right of my front, passenger tire! I carefully diverted the wheel away from their direction and applied the brake. I was filled with delight at the precious sight, being the avid “animal lover” that I am, at the same time as being filled with fear of what could happen to those ducks if my or any other car were to hit them.

You see, it is my belief that, in a harried society such as ours, we can often take for granted the beautiful and simplistic meaning of nature's work at its' finest. The wonder of seeing this duck family showed me a proud mother teaching her offspring, guiding them, bringing them to their new home; all the while trying to co-exist in a fast-paced, humanized and overcrowded world. It isn't until a moment of potential tragedy presents itself, that the “You've seen one duck, you've seen them all” adage may not necessarily apply. If that is what it takes to ignite a re-birth of consciousness in our lives, then so be it. When life, of any kind, hangs in the balance, one can break the situation down where our basic and true instincts take over, in order to preserve such a gift. Likewise, in the day and age of terrorism, exorbitant gasoline prices and economical devastation; who wouldn't want to take a moment to enjoy the serenity, innocence and the lessons an otherwise, “simpleminded” animal has to offer us about what truly matters in life?

For those and many more reasons, my instincts took over and I placed my vehicle in park, put on the hazards and attempted to guide the rear-approaching traffic away from the family of ducks. The mother duck (hereon referred to as “Mom”) had sensed the threat my vehicle posed and retreated with her babes back onto the elevated curb. Realizing I was a bit out of my element, being a “Traffic Control layman” of sorts, I decided to pull off onto the next side street, where I parked my car, got out (securing dog and windows for safety) and used my cell phone to call the Palatine Police. I advised them of what I was witnessing and explained to them that I was concerned not only for the potential of automobile accidents (anticipating motorists trying to avoid the family of ducks as Mom would, most likely, attempt to cross the road again), but I was concerned for the ducks lives as well. The Dispatcher promised to send an officer as soon as possible.

As I waited for help and watched with great anticipation, what I had expected, did, in fact, happen. Mom stepped down when, one by one, off the curb, followed her babes in single file formation; like a precision, military exercise. Their yellowish-green feathers made them appear as spring colored cotton balls on a direct mission to find Camelot. I likened this spectacle to that of witnessing a space shuttle launch; would it get off successfully, without incident? Much to my relief, the approaching northbound traffic had been observant and slowed for the ducks to make it safely to the median. It was at that time I noticed two trucks from the Cook County Highway Department (from Algonquin and Meacham Roads) pull up onto the median. I assumed they had been passersby and came to assist the parade that they, too, had come upon. I saw these three gentlemen exit their trucks, which they had strategically placed on an angle to corral and guide the ducks. They had ignited their truck lights and attempted to guide both directions of Quentin Road traffic.

I had wondered, from afar, why Mom was pacing in circles, as I was hearing her “quacks” of alarm. It was at that moment I saw the Palatine Police officers pull up into the middle of the road, which was where I had followed in my car. I'm not sure what came over me, but I felt I just had to help. When I got out of my car, I asked the gentlemen what had happened. It was at that moment when my stomach felt an enormous tug as they explained to me that Mom was trying to get her babes across the median and while still in single file, one-by-one, they had fallen through the holes in the manhole cover and down into the sewer system. The sweet, little chirps still resonate in my mind as they called for Mom to help them. They couldn't live down there; no food to eat, no sky to fly in, the sewage, the danger and most importantly, no Mom to teach them survival skills! They had to be helped!

I was politely asked by the Police Officer to move my vehicle, for my safety. I did just that. I quietly and intently watched from the mall parking lot in amazement at what came next. One of the Cook County Highway Department employees laid down on his stomach, in the middle of a 40 mile per hour road and while a Palatine Police Officer held his legs (so he wouldn't, too, fall into the sewer), he began to “fish”, by hand, for the anxious ducklings. While one other gentleman from Cook County helped another Officer guide the traffic and keep Mom from her demise, another held a bucket that they retrieved from their vehicle.

One-by-one, as easily as they so happened to go down; up they came. It was like a well choreographed routine. The gentleman from Cook County Highway Department had “delivered” 8 beautiful (and alive) tiny ducklings into the awaiting bucket, where Mom had been circling nervously! After several attempts, one of the men was finally able to get Mom to notice the bucket full of babes, which he extended behind him. Once assured they were her brood in the bucket, she began to follow, protectively, across the road at the same time a Police Officer had halted the southbound traffic of Quentin Road. The Cook County employee had escorted Mom and her bucket of eight toward her original destination!

The saga doesn't end here, though! As I watched the men replace the manhole cover after careful surveillance of the sewers, we could all hear one lone “Chirp…chirp…chirp”. Apparently, there had been one straggler in the bunch of babes. I heard one of the men say, “I guess there must be a sacrifice of one for the sake of saving others”. I bowed my head and whispered, “No, please help the little guy”. I watched and waited for what had to be only a couple of minutes from the time the men approached their vehicles to leave the scene and the time they re-approached the manhole covers; this time not opening one, but two of the covers. I heard them say they weren't sure if the lone duckling had traveled down the sewer system. They weren't sure the little guy was within their grasp! Still, we could all hear that plea for help!

I am certain that is the factor that, shall I say, “melted” these otherwise rough and tough men into feeling compassion for a live, helpless duckling waiting to be rescued! Back on his stomach he went; the same man, new bucket; Mom and the other 8 babes already on their way to Duck Camelot. With great joy and jubilation, I witnessed the final duckling rise from the Northwest Suburban sewer system; a bit more wet than before, with no visible trauma sustained and grateful to his (or her) rescuer! And then there were nine! Nine happy babes, with a fresh, new lease on life! Performing just like a delivery room full of professionals, off went the second bucket, holding the last babe, personally driven by the Department to meet up with Mom and the rest of the brood.

As they disappeared into the distance, I waited. I watched the Officers restore the traffic flow to its' normal hustle and bustle and the Cook County Gentlemen pack up their vehicles. I stood in amazement at what I had just witnessed. This situation wasn't the development of the Worldwide Web nor was it the invention of Penicillin. Rather, it was epitome of human compassion and heartfelt concern for the well being of humans and animals alike! It was a group of strangers, working together as a community in order to restore and preserve nature. The whole event represents the very basic abilities we possess, but so often put aside for our pursuit of the Bigger, Better and Faster. Those “basics” include instinct without pre-judgment, slowing your pace down to recognize the happenings in your surroundings and putting others before self. Most of all, the pride and emotion I experienced from this heartwarming event comes from the fact that, when I asked for names of those involved in the rescue, not a one wished to be named for their heroics. The gentlemen at the Cook County Highway Department and the Palatine Police Officers expressed to have received their kudos from the self-satisfaction that they took by involving themselves in such a tender and touching rescue.

So, I ask you, the next time you happen to be traveling about your day and you come upon another in need, would you slow your pace down to help out? Would you give of yourself and your time in order to maintain harmony in your community? Finally, Yes… if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is, most definitely, a duck and well worth saving!