Ever since Lila came to us at eight weeks of age I’ve had my eye on this toy duck.  A nearly life-sized plush duck that quacks.  Given Lila’s destructive streak, for months I restrained myself from buying one.  But as her first birthday approached, I thought the time might finally be right and I placed an order.

The toy took ages to arrive, but when it did, neither Phil nor I could make it quack.  We poked and prodded all its body parts, but mute it remained.  It seemed we’d bought a dud duck.   When I called the shop to arrange an exchange, it emerged that our duck was not a dud, but merely a delicate creature…vocalising only in response to just the right touch.  Oh well.  Lila’s clever.  Surely she’d figure it out (even if we hadn’t).  [read more below]

So on the morning of her first birthday, we presented her with the coveted duck.  Wrapped in bright yellow.   When we squeezed its plump belly, the harsh sound startled her.   But Lila’s a brave dog as well as a clever one and promptly wrapped her jaws around its limp neck, shook it violently and, to my horror, set about plucking its fuzzy feathers.  Despite all that, she did indeed manage to make it quack.

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