In this series, I will take the Word of the Day from Dictionary.com and craft a short piece of creative writing around it. My goal is to embrace the meaning of the word in some unique way, all the while trying out different styles, rhythms and characterizations. It is as much an exercise in creativity as it is an exploration of grammar. Enjoy!
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By Alex Seise
Three ducks glided along the glassy pond, their bills triumphantly pointed toward the sky as they swam and squawked. Beneath their submerged bellies matted with moist down, schools of tiny minnows fluttered about in the cool water thick with algae. The eldest duck, a gray-brown mallard who’d already seen two migrations, straightened her stiff neck, fluffed her feathers and dipped her sleek black bill into the depths with a gentle plash barely audible to her companions. She emerged victorious with a small shimmering fish to show for the dive. The others quacked and honked their applause.