Just past the 405 junction traffic came to a stop.
In front of me, across all five lanes, cars were parked with flashers on
And a white duck waddled down the middle lane.

Hundreds of us watched as a man with a beard
Got out of a red Datsun, ran three quick steps and
Scooped up the duck, one hand on its bill, the other under its belly.
He opened his hatchback and put the duck inside.
We honked in celebration.

I turned off my iPod and drove the rest of the way home in silence
Fantasizing that I was the one who saved the duck.
I imagined I brought it home in the back of my car and kept it in the yard.
Shannon bought a kiddie pool so it could splash around
And we fed it organic grain my dad shipped from the farm back home.
We emailed friends pictures of the duck in response
To pictures of their dogs and newborn babies
And when the duck finally flew away, we stood in the yard and cried.

I pulled into my driveway and realized my cheeks were wet.
I sat in the quiet car for a moment, eyes squeezed shut,
Wishing I had been the brave one.