Lessons From Ducks by Tammy Robinson Read Free Book Online Page A

small wave and a smile.
    Without a word she turned on her heel and hurried off down the street, dodging cracks and stepping over loose stones in the pavement like she knew their location expertly.
    The man sighed. “Was it something I said?”
    “Come on dad,” the boy said, “she obviously doesn’t want to talk to you. And I’m hungry.”
    But his father shook his head. “Sorry son, but your stomach’s going to have to wait a bit longer. Come on.” And he set off determinedly after the woman. Come hell or high water, her rudeness aside, he was going to make sure she made it home safe and sound. Something had upset her in the playground; he’d seen it in her eyes and he’d heard it in her voice. It had tugged at that primal part of him that most men have, that pocket somewhere inside that can’t bear to see a woman in distress. Call it chivalry, or gallantry or even just plain old good manners. He was going to set an example for his son, and that was that you never abandoned an upset woman, whether she wanted your assistance or not.
    Anna paused at the next street corner and glanced over her shoulder while waiting to cross. She frowned when she saw the man and the boy still following. Crossing, she picked up her pace, but when she came to the next street crossing and saw they were still behind her she stopped and turned to face them, hands on hips and glare firmly attached to face.
    “What?” she demanded when they caught up to her. “What do you want? Why are you following me?”
    “What makes you think we’re following you?” the man retorted.
    “Aren’t you?”
    “Maybe,” he shrugged, “maybe not. Maybe we live in this direction too, did you think about that?”
    “Well do you?”
    “Do I what?”
    She gritted her teeth and spoke slowly as if he were an idiot. “Do you live in this direction?”
    “Yes,” the man said, at the same time as the boy said “no.”
    “Well? Which is it?”
    “No,” the man admitted, at the same time as the boy came to his father’s defence and said “yes.”
    “Look, I don’t know what you two are playing at, but if you don’t stop following me I’m going to call the police.”
    “Hey,” the man took a step backwards, hands held up placatingly. “There’s no need for that.”
    “Dad why does she want to call the police?” the boy was confused. “We were only trying to help.”
    “I know son, it’s ok.” The man put an arm across his boy’s shoulders and drew him in against his side. He looked at Anna again. “I’m sorry if we scared you, we meant you no harm I promise.”
    “Then why were you following me?”
    “We wanted to make sure you got home ok, that’s all. Back in the playground, you seemed so upset over something. You really didn’t look well at all.” He shrugged his shoulders. “We were worried.” He caught his son’s expression. “ I was worried.”
    Anna’s face softened and she even bestowed them with a small smile. ‘That’s sweet of you,. But there’s no need for concern, I’m fine.”
    The man admired the way her face had altered with the smile, like the world washed clean after a rainstorm, or the way a penny shines bright after a good rub with some baking soda. When her frown lines disappeared so too did the faint impression of anger she’d worn. She seemed to have discarded years off her age with that one single smile. And if he’d thought her pretty before, which he had, she’d become even prettier. Her lips were her best feature, he decided, although it was stiff competition between them and her eyes. Her lips were perfectly proportioned to each other, no thin top lip, like the one his ex-wife sported - which had narrowed even further over the years he’d known her from all the times she’d tightened it into a straight line in anger and bitterness - usually directed at him. No, this lady’s lips were full and fleshy and soft, he could see that without even needing a touch for confirmation. They were the