
It was the quacking that first got my attention. It seemed an odd sound in a scene otherwise resounding with jingling bells, toot-tooting trains and the giggles and squeals of excited children.
I followed the noise through the red, white and green jumble of Santa-hatted people and Christmas trees to a toddler perched on the edge of the petting zoo at Winter Wonderland. He was having a one-sided conversation with a duck, who seemed to be listening intently.









