Feeding the Ducks

Maria looked at the twins and frowned, taking a handkerchief out of her bag and wiping a smudge from the tip of Elsie’s patent leather shoe.

“That’s better! Ladies should always look immaculate, haven’t I always said that, children?” She paused at the mirror in the hallway, fastening her jacket and smoothing a crease in her skirt. “There, now who wants to go to the park?”

She called the elevator from the ground floor, smiling at the sight of the fresh cherry blossoms on the marble console table. The gilded doors opened and a Geoffrey tipped his cap at her as she wheeled the double stroller into his car.

“Lovely day for a walk, eh Miss Maria?”

“Absolutely! We’re headed to Central Park, going to feed the ducks, aren’t we children?”

Geoffrey bent down, making faces at the toddlers. “Now you two be good for Miss Maria today, you hear?” He pretended to pull a piece of caramel from behind their ears.

She snatched the candy out of his hands. “Really, Geoffrey! You know better. The Cossingtons don’t allow their children to eat sweets!” She put the candy in her apron pocket, marching primly out of the lift with her young charges.

Outside the sunlight fell in milky puddles on the sidewalk. The air was hazy, dust particles swirling in the breeze. Maria brushed the dust from her skirts and tutted to herself, making a mental note to wash her apron as soon as she got home. She walked down the silent avenue towards the park entrance, nodding to acquaintances as they passed by.

The park was tranquil, the trees lush and green as they swayed gently overhead. A group of Charlies were working hard on one of the raised flowerbeds, digging away as they planted new bulbs in the damp earth. She pushed the stroller along the neatly kept pathway down to the pond, parking them carefully in front of the water.

She greeted the Janson’s Maria, who was staring out over the pond as though lost in thought. The Janson’s children were school aged now, and she felt sorry for her friend. It must be awful being apart from your charges like that. What would you do with yourself?

“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it? Makes you glad to be alive.”

Maria smiled. “It certainly is! Although I’m afraid the ducks don’t seem to be out today. We were going to feed them, you know - the children love throwing bread crumbs.”

The other Maria frowned. “I haven’t seen ducks in a while now."

They stood in quiet contemplation, trying to remember the last time there had been ducks on the pond.

"Maybe they’re migrating. Ducks do that, don’t they?”

“That makes sense. I never thought about it before. You are clever!”

The older Maria nodded. “You pick things up, when you’ve been around as long as I have, my dear. Shall we head to the play park instead? Your little ones might enjoy that, and the stroll will do me good.”

The two walked in companionable silence over to the playground. It gleamed in the diffuse light, freshly painted and as shiny as the day it was made. The Charlies did a great job of park upkeep.

There were other Marias inside the playground, sitting on benches around the edge of the sandpit, or standing near the slides chatting. Maria headed for the swings, the twins had always loved those the best. They would squeal and beg her to push them higher, high as the top bar, high enough to kick the sky. Of course, she never did, aware of the dangers. She lifted Elsie into the first swing, fastening the harness before placing her brother James beside her.

The nearest Maria said hello. “What beautiful children you have, my dear!” She said, admiring the crisply starched white dress and blue ribbons on Elsie’s bonnet. “They’re a credit to you, I’m sure!”

“They are remarkable children, that’s for certain. They keep me busy with their antics, but I wouldn’t trade them for all the tea in China!” Maria beamed with pride, as she pushed the toddlers steadily back and forth, back and forth.

Everything was so peaceful – no birds tweeting in the trees, no dogs barking, no cars honking or sirens blaring in the city beyond. It was heavenly. Maria hummed a lullaby as she pushed the children, aware of the others admiring glances – what a doting nanny she was! How smartly dressed and such delightfully well-behaved children.

Suddenly there was a thunk on the ground below the swing-set. The other Marias all gasped, whispering amongst themselves and staring.

Maria walked around to the front of the swing, picking up Elsie’s skull and tied it back in place with the bonnet ribbons.

“Elsie, you know better than that! You’re causing a scene, I won’t tolerate this kind of behavior young lady! Sit nicely, or I’ll take you home this minute!”

The child’s body slumped in the swing beside her skeletal brother, her head lolling on her shoulders. The other Marias went back to their own duties, rocking their long-dead babies in prams, and chattering about the weather.

It really was a glorious day in the big city.