Wishing ducks

Dream me woke up to another morning in a dystopian post apocalyptic realm. As I was waking I struggled to remember how life had become this way. Zombies? War? Plague? The more I tried to think about it, the less it seemed to matter. Remembering the events of the past wouldn't change my life today.

I lived in a run down block of flats amongst some family, a few friends and pleasant neighbours. Life wasn't perfect but we were a happy community, scavenging what we could from the outside world and making the best of the indoor village we'd created.

I had a very elderly dog. In the past he was a fierce and trusty companion who protected me on errands. He was too old and frail to go out now so he'd stay inside waiting to happily greet me whenever I'd return. I'd always try to return with something for him in my backpack for being such a good boy.

That day, he died. I cuddled him and I cried. What was I going to do without my best friend? I was approached by a wise elderly man who comforted me.

By the elderly mans side was the biggest duck I had ever seen. It was plump and reached the elderly mans waist in height. It was also navy blue. I asked the elderly man about his duck. "This is a wishing duck" he told me. "When raising ducks, some of them are born blue. Tell each of the blue ducks a wish and if any of them grow to an abnormal size, they will grant the wish you gave them."

The elderly man told me he'd left some seeds for me in my postal locker. He suggested I should plant them and start growing some ducks... (not how ducks work but ok?). I got up to head to my locker and he called after me "You can only tell each blue duck one wish and you can't tell the same wish to two."

Time skipped ahead and I had taken well to raising ducks (yeah from seeds apparently). The community got fresh eggs (not sure how, ducks grow from seeds now) and I had something to focus my time and energy on. One day my eyes opened wide with hope and excitement. I had ONE blue duck. I spent time raising him and caring for him until one day I picked him up to tell him my wish - I wished to have my dog back.

The duck shrivelled up and deflated like an old balloon.