Edmund II sat by the murky lake, pondering deeply as he looked at the rippling water distorting the bright reflection of the illuminating moon. It was night as Edmund II and Goose sat side by side, basking under the moon’s rays. The warm nights felt like a blanket drifting over the ducks and geese. These little birds had fallen into deep slumber under the dark sky, with only the stars and planets scattering like glitter on velvet cloth.

“Goose, what do you think about life?” Edmund II asked in his squeaky quack, swishing his teal blue tail.

Goose pondered for a moment.

“I think life is short,” Goose answered, wading her little feet in the water.

“Why so?” Edmund asked.

Goose waddled up to Edmund II, replying, “Us ducks and geese only have ten years to live, Edmund.”

Edmund II thought for a while, watching the other nearby ducks and geese nestle towards each other.

Truthfully, Edmund II didn’t grasp the ideas of life and death. As a whale-duck-ox hybrid of a creature, he had approximately ninety years to live like the deep-sea whales, but the ducks did not. A day in the life of Goose and her other duck friends felt like only a trivial hour to Edmund.

“What is the meaning of life?” Edmund II questioned again, looking at Goose. Goose rolled her eyes as Edmund II popped the same nagging questions for the last month.

To be quite frank, Edmund II was known for his theoretical and existential questions, which always annoyed the ducks around him. However, Goose was one of the only few ducklings who actually engaged in his bantering.

“Well, what is YOUR interpretation of life?” Goose replied.

“I think life should be about all fun and NO regrets,” Edmund answered definitively. “Life should be about hanging out with friends and discussing the truths of the universe! Like, what’s the deal with “Heaven”? Or where do we go when we pass away? All of these unknowns, we can find answers to!”

“Realistically, we ducks and geese don’t have that much time to solve these unknown questions, Edmund. How can we play or find the answers if the days are so busy?” Goose challenged Edmund’s statement. “Us ducks and geese must go out to scavenge for the bread from the park visitors and nurture our eggs for our families.”

Edmund II had not realized this perspective, since he had no responsibilities.

“Well, how about swimming in the waters or playing with the ducklings? Isn’t that considered fun?” Edmund II pondered.

“Yes, Edmund. But as we grow older, we can’t have much fun, can we?” Goose sighed. “I must watch the ducklings and goslings while the other ducks scavenge for food. A long time ago, the ducklings and goslings used to go out and play around the city, visiting the golf parks and playgrounds of the children. But the ducklings are now only confined to this very finite pond.”

“Why can’t the children go out to play? Life should be about fun, or is that not the true meaning of life?” Edmund II asked, shocked.

“The humans do not let us. The big concrete buildings prevent the ducklings from exploring as the humans have marked their territory. We have lost some of our kin to these gigantic four-wheel monsters that roll over our ducklings, “ Goose answered. “Plus, the ducklings must learn at a young age to fly south during the winters for the annual migration. They need to grow up and learn the skills of survival.”

Edmund became silent. The night only echoed with the squeaky chirping of the crickets.

Edmund II thought of an idea. “How about letting the ducklings and goslings use their imagination? They can play whatever they want, like making sculptures from the clay of the lake or performing to one another. Oh, here’s a good idea: synchronized swimming! This attraction will definitely bring in more visitors and bread for us.”

Goose quacked a laugh, “That sounds like a fun idea for the ducklings.”

Edmund and Goose looked at the innocent snuggling ducklings and goslings, who slept soundly.

“Edmund, look how quickly they grow up. Time flies, doesn’t it,” Goose noticed. “Soon, they will be ducks and geese.”

Edmund nodded his head, “Yes, Goose. But I hope they still enjoy life and learn the meaning of life.”

“I’m sure they will.”

Edmund II and Goose sat side by side in silence, watching as the moon disappeared from the sky, allowing the sun to make his bright reappearance. Edmund II did not have his favorite question fully answered, but he knew that leisure was an essential in this short, grand life.