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朋友拥有一只鸭子，是一只光鲜亮丽的黑羽麻鸭，小鸭体型狭长，羽毛丰盈，坐卧在地面上的时候就像一只小船，在阳光的照耀下熠熠生辉。鸭子被养在自家小院里，一家人在院中一隅就地搭了一座简单的鸭舍。在地上划分出一片不规则的正方形，以两面现存挡墙为主墙体，另外空空的两面则用围栏和防护网造起一片围栏，将场地包围住。整个空间不到一平方米的样子。其中，防护网可以从底部用扫帚掀起一个小口，让鸭子可以自由钻进钻出到外面水池和菜地散步。

除此之外，鸭舍内的一角还有一颗小树，天热的时候为鸭子提供一片树荫，但是看起来不太能挡雨的样子，但是意境到了。树干上还搭着一把被天堂伞，但是已经被风雨摧残到七零八落。也许搭伞最初的设想就是为了给鸭子挡雨，但是现在这把伞已经被塑成了风的形状，俨然变成了艺术装置一样的存在。

鸭舍整体是一个朴实而可爱的空间，鸭子可以在树荫下的小棚子里享受时光，不经意间，雨伞也变成了艺术品。

A friend of mine owns a duck, a splendid black-feathered Muscovy duck. This little duck has a sleek and elongated body, its feathers are lush, and when it sits or lies on the ground, it resembles a small boat, shimmering in the sunlight. The duck is kept in their own small courtyard, where the family has built a simple duck shed in one corner. They’ve marked out an irregular square on the ground, with the existing walls on two sides serving as the main structure, while the other two sides are enclosed with a fence and protective netting, creating a fenced area, all in a space of less than a square meter. The protective netting can be lifted from the bottom to create a small opening, allowing the duck to freely come in and out to the outside pool and vegetable garden for a stroll.

Additionally, there’s a small tree in one corner of the duck shed, offering shade for the duck during hot days, even though it doesn’t seem too effective against rain. Nevertheless, it adds a picturesque touch. Hanging on the tree trunk, there’s a weather-beaten umbrella, which seems to have been placed there for rain protection initially, but over time, its form has been shaped by the wind and rain, transforming it into an art-like installation.

The entire setup is a quaint and charming space, where the duck can enjoy its days amidst the little shelter, shaded by the tree and, inadvertently, an umbrella turned artwork.

这只鸭子从幼鸭开始就被抚养长大的，听朋友说父母当时一共抱回来四只幼鸭，但它们不幸在饲养的过程中相继夭折，到目前只剩下一只幸存鸭，就是这只鸭子。我的朋友和小鸭建立了深厚的感情，他在夏天大多是的时候会住在这个郊外的家里，每天早上8点去附近的早餐铺吃饭，然后再溜达到生鲜店给鸭子和人购买新鲜的蔬菜。有时候觉得鸭子在鸭舍里关得久了，他还会把鸭子赶到水塘里游泳，以维持鸭子的身心健康，当然，朋友也很满意自己塑造的这一“黑毛浮绿水，黄掌拨清波”景象，宛如老父亲一般时常站在岸边观看。

This duck has been raised since it was a duckling. According to my friend, they initially brought home four ducklings, but unfortunately, the others succumbed to various challenges during the rearing process. Now, only this one duck remains, and it has grown into the splendid creature it is today. My friend and this duck have developed a deep bond. During most summer days, my friend stays at their countryside home. In the mornings around 8 o’clock, they head to a nearby breakfast place for a meal, and then they amble to the local fresh market to purchase fresh vegetables for both the duck and themselves.

At times, feeling that the duck has spent too much time in the shed, my friend ushers it to the pond for a swim, ensuring the duck’s physical and mental well-being. Of course, my friend takes pride in creating this picturesque scene of “black-feathered duck floating in the green water, yellow webbed feet ruffling the clear ripples.” Just like an old father, my friend often stands at the shore, observing this tranquil scene with contentment.

当然，鸭子在水里也怡然自得，它在水上扑簌着翅膀，把头飞快地伸到水下喝水，大动作溅起一圈圈水花，有时候玩得高兴了还会潜入水底，轻盈地穿梭其间，把水里的小鱼们搅得不得安宁。除了小鱼外，小院中偶尔会有松鼠光顾，不过看样子它和鸭子应该交流不是很多。朋友有一次去博物馆，看到博物馆庭院里养了一群白花花的大鹅，他也会念叨着自家鸭子说不定会跟这群大鹅做朋友。我问鸭子的最终归属会是哪，他盯着西湖的湖面喃喃道：“也许会放到西湖吧，做一只快乐的野鸭子。”

Of course, the duck thoroughly enjoys itself in the water. It flaps its wings on the surface, quickly dips its head underwater to take a sip, creating lively ripples and splashes. Sometimes, in moments of sheer delight, it even dives beneath the water’s surface, gracefully maneuvering among the aquatic realm, playfully disrupting the peace of the small fish that inhabit the water. Besides the fish, the courtyard occasionally welcomes visits from squirrels. However, it seems that these squirrels and the duck don’t engage in much interaction.

Once, my friend visited a museum and saw a flock of white geese in the museum’s courtyard. Jokingly, my friend mentioned that their duck might become friends with this group of geese. I asked my friend about the duck’s eventual fate, and they gazed at the surface of West Lake, murmuring, “Perhaps it will be released into West Lake, living as a joyful wild duck.”

每个见到鸭子的人都会问朋友它的名字叫什么，其实它也没有名字，“鸭鸭”就是它的代号，就像老友记里Joey和Chandler养的阿鸡和阿鸭一样，”the chick” and “the duck”, 简单且到位。虽然朋友还没到给鸭鸭洗澡抱到床上讲睡前故事那一步，但毋庸置疑的是，鸭鸭已经变成他夏天里最特别的朋友。养一只鸭子，还蛮酷的。听说，鸭鸭的后续是送回老家继续养着，祝它健康。

Every person who meets the duck asks my friend what its name is. In reality, it doesn’t have a proper name; “Ducky” is its codename. Similar to the characters Joey and Chandler from “Friends” and their pet chicken and duck – “the chick” and “the duck” – it’s simple yet fitting. Although my friend hasn’t reached the stage of giving Ducky baths and reading bedtime stories, without a doubt, Ducky has become the most special companion in their summer. Having a pet duck is quite cool. I heard that Ducky’s future entails returning to their original home to continue its life, and I wish it a healthy journey ahead.

在临走的时候，朋友展示了一段赶鸭子戏水的情节，他手里的扫帚就像音乐家的指挥棒一样，只要在鸭鸭身后轻轻一挥，小鸭就能从善如流地从岸上滑入水池中。但是把鸭鸭赶回家就变得困难重重，它在岸边左右徘徊，一会儿飞到凉亭下，一会儿又跳到菜田里，朋友只能在一旁叉起腰静静看鸭鸭表演，扫帚在此刻失去魔法，又变成了一把普普通通的蓝色塑料扫帚。

Before leaving, my friend shared a scene of herding the ducks into the water playfully. In his hand, the broom acted like a conductor’s baton, gently swaying behind the ducks. The little duck obediently slipped into the pool as if following a musical rhythm. However, the challenge emerged when it was time to herd them back home. The duck hesitated on the bank, wandering left and right. It flew under the pavilion momentarily, then hopped into the vegetable patch. My friend stood by, hands on hips, silently observing the duck’s performance. At this moment, the broom lost its magic and turned into an ordinary blue plastic broom once again.