Flash Friday: Patrick, My Great Uncle Adolphus’s Duck

A story of heartbreak, family and feathered pets ends our week in our latest flash fiction instalment, in partnership with Tin House magazine

By Mark Hoadley for Flash Fridays by Tin House, part of the Guardian Books Network

My Great Uncle Adolphus had a pet duck named Patrick. Patrick was insecure, needy, foul-tempered, and brilliant. Not just brilliant for a duck either, my Great Uncle would say. Patrick possesses a keen mind. He has a deep curiosity about everything under the sun and a bracing skepticism! Patrick would hiss at us whenever we went to visit. He would laugh nastily when we mispronounced words or displayed lazy, unoriginal thinking. When we left there was always duck poop in our shoes. The price of genius, Great Uncle Adolphus would say, smiling proudly.

“He is an unpleasant creature. But he is ours. He’ll have your room now. You will sleep on the couch from now on.”

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