Bromford and Duck …

 

»Back to business«, I am grinning. »I brought you another candidate for the new animal companion in my life, animal.«

»Business? Back to business? You are so mean, dude. You are the devil in Bromford disguise.«

»I don't know what you are talking about, llammy. I think this is the perfect companion for me and replacement for you. Look at this cute little DUCKling. Look how it is watching you.«

»How rude, how cruel, you human torturer of poor llama souls. You know very well about my Anatidaephobie. I have talked about it over and over again throughout the long years of our acquaintance. Take this thing out of the penthouse. Take this thing back to Baltimore …«

»Anti… what?«

»Anatidaephobia! It is the fear that a DUCK may be watching you. The term comes from the Greek word “anatidae,” which means “swan, DUCKS, or geese,” and “phobos,” which means “fear.”«

»Ah, come on, animal. You are making that one up. Are you inventing phobias or diseases now to make yourself important or maybe to make me let you stay as my animal companion?«

»No! No! No! Anatidaephobia is the fear of constantly being watched by DUCKS.«

»Animal-related phobias can be very challenging«, I am stroking my chin taking on my most doctor or psychiatrist like face and behaviour, »but options such as mindful breathing or exposure therapy may help you cope.«

»Leave me alone, dude. Let me go!«

As the animal is trying to leave the living room of the penthouse above the fifteenth floor of the apartment building at 666, Whitaker Lane in Bromford the friendly town by the bay and seaside I am picking up the DUCK holding it in the llama's direction.

»No! No! No!«

Now the animal is running towards the open glasdoor to the roof terrace.

»Come on, llammy. Cuddle the little DUCKling. Let it ride on your back. Make it your friend. This is how exposure works.«

As I do so the DUCK is spreading its wings and flying away through the open sliding door into the springy sky above the town.

The llama is cowering behind the curtain next to the big window now all shivering and sobbing.

»You can come out now, llama«, I say feeling kind of guilty all of a sudden. »I didn't know that you are taking this phobia thing so serious. I was just a little joke. I found that DUCK on the bricked fish pont on our roof terrace this morning. It was kind of exhausted and looked possibly injured. I took it inside to give it some rest and to see if I had take it to a vet.«

»That wasn't nice, dude. Not nice. And obviously it wasn't injured or sick at all as quick it was leaving this place. Not nice. Not nice.«

Cautiously it is coming towards me with hanging head and finally breathing gently down my hand.

»But do you know what I liked about this situation, dude?«

I am slightly petting the curly hair on the llama's  forehead, now.

»What did you like, animal?«

»You«, the llama shouts bouncing up and down and towards the kitchen, »you calling me llammy.«

And as I hear the animal opening and plundering the refridgerator I murmer to myself, »I'm sorry, llammy, it won't happen again.«

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Today is Tuesday, the 18th of March 2025.