[ WP ] You/He/She leave ( s ) home for work , and on the way notice ( s ) there are no birds to be seen or heard . Anywhere .

“ Turn right ” the gps on my phone commanded me, and like its personal slave I complied. I slowed down as I drove past the park to take a moment to enjoy this first warm spring day. There were children everywhere, parents keeping enough distance to let them feel a little freedom, but staying close by enough to jump in if something were to go awry. 
 
 
 That ’ s when I noticed the man sitting on a bench near the pond. I had never seen a man look so depressed. 
 
 I pulled into a parking spot and figured I would go see if I could cheer him up, I didn ’ t have anything to do for a few hours anyway, and no one should be that sad on a day this beautiful. 
 
 As I walk over I notice a few more things about the man, he was wearing an old golf cap, but I could see his wispy white hair sitting out the sides, he had to be at least 70 years old, but I could tell by the smile lines on his face, he had lived a good life. Next to him on the bench there was an unopened loaf of bread. 
 
 I sat down on the opposite side of the bench, glanced over at the older gentleman and saw tears in his eyes. I realized then I had no clue what to say or how to help, so I just sat and waited. After what felt like an eternity of uncomfortable silence he finally spoke up. 
 
 “ It was our tradition. The first warm day of the spring me and Margaret would come down to this lake and feed the ducks. She made me promise to keep that tradition alive. For the last 12 years I have come down here and kept that promise, but this year it doesn ’ t look like I ’ m going to be able to, you see… this year... there are no ducks. ” 
 
 Now that I thought about it, I didn ’ t remember the last time I saw a duck, or any bird for that matter. 

