The Slice: If the feisty feline attacked, I really couldn’t yell ‘duck’

Maybe this happens all the time where you live.

But I had not seen it before, at least not from my front door.

The other evening, I was surprised to spot a pair of wild ducks sauntering through my yard.

First I saw the green-headed male mallard. He walked under the maple tree. Then his mottled brown mate appeared.

I don’t live next to a body of water. But maybe the recent rain had made landlocked lawns just right for hunting night crawlers. Who knows?

This wasn’t the most pressing question, though. That honor went to “Where is my neighbor’s cat right now?”

I have no idea if that feisty feline would attack a duck. But she might. For all I know, she might see a duck and conclude that it’s a tuna — fresh and on the hoof.

Or maybe she would see a duck, recognize it as such, and start making plans to whip up some orange sauce.

My hope, of course, was that the birds would simply take wing if the predator next door showed up. Which she did.

But by that time, my neighbor had seen the ducks, which were now in her yard. She stood out in front of her house, watching. And when the cat appeared my neighbor scooped her up before the puzzled feline had figured out what all the excitement was about. The ducks continued on their way unmolested.

No telling what awaited them down the block. But for the moment, there was a happy ending.

Slice answers: The question about falling off ladders netted some wince-inducing stories featuring a variety of ghastly injuries. I’ll spare you.

But try to remember that it’s not a good idea to rationalize bad decisions by telling yourself, “Well, I’ll just be in this precarious position for a moment.”

Lofty Goals Department: “My big plans for the summer are to try to make The Slice at least once,” wrote Jody K. Hamilton.

Today’s Slice question: If there were themed summer camps for canines, which one would your dog like to attend?