Standing by the pond on this sunny but cold early April morning, I can't help but feel suspiscious. Clutching a bag of bread, this is where I've been invited to carry out a breakfast interview with Carl. I've been forewarned of his timekeeping so am pleasently surprised to see him float into view after only five minutes of waiting.
Carl is one of millions of ducks nationwide who suffer from Canard Plastiquitis - a condition which sees every cell in their body react violently to the air around them when the break out their shells.
Professor Brady is an expert in plastiquitis from the University of Liff. He explains "every cell, upon hitting air, immediately swells up to 3 or 4 times its normal size, hardens and turns a shiney yellow colour."
This, however, is just the start of their problems. The condition leaves many ducks immobile. Their mothers able to care for them for only so long before the need to protect and teach the rest of the family becomes paramount.
"When my mother left me with all my brothers and sisters it was to lose everything. She took everyone while she thought I was sleeping. I can only assume she thought it was for the best, but being awake and seeing her and my family wander into the water for the first time and then not returning. It's what made me scared of the water.
"I wouldn't be where I am today without the goodness of the Joneses and the support of Yellow." Yellow is the charity which supports suffers of plastiquitis, and it's only because Sarah Jones found the abandonned Carl that he is where he is today. Most ducks get found by commercial hunters who then sell their prey to supermarkets and other retailers. Having a Yellow supporter finding you is the best gift a duck can receive.
"It was only by chance that I was found by Sarah and not a commercial hunter like so many others. Sarah helped me and understood me. She didn't push me into water or scare me. She supported me in finding my water legs and overcoming my fears. Ducks brought off the shelf often do not get the kind of consideration I got. This leads them further into depression, paranoia and a whole host of other mental illnesses to go with their plastiquitis."
Yes, Carl has had to overcome many difficulties to get to where he is today, racing in the annual Lymm Duck Race. Sarah Jones has been instrumental in helping him get over things.
Sarah told us that she joined Yellow originally because it was her favourite colour. The storybook they sent her was key for her recognising the abandonned Carl. "He was in the bushes by the canal. It looked just like the picture in The Adventures of Denise the Duck."
Sarah's family took Carl in. They slowly started introducing him to water in his everyday life. "The first thing they did was get me used to the idea of being wet. They would pour warm water on me very gentley. Then they let me sit in the sink with some water in it. They let it get slowly deeper and deeper until suddenly one day I realised I was ready for the bath. My first time... whew, what an experience. The sink was a lovely calm, serene surface. So was the bath, until Sarah got in with me. Suddenly I'm bobbing about with no control. But, it was fun." So much fun in fact that Carl soon wanted to try being on the real water. From there it wasn't hard to see that he would end up in the annual race.
The race through "the dingle" between the two dams in Lymm is a popular one, but not without dangers. The current can easily take participants off course leaving them stuck in the muddy banks or, worse, impaled on the tree branches which turn the course almost into a slalom run.
Many local businesses are rooting for Carl; Mr Sexton from the village bakery is one big supporter, "Carl is one of our favourite customers. He comes in with Sarah everyday for a loaf of bread - wholemeal for preference although he will take some fruit loaf on a weekend."
Carl is hoping to raise money and awareness for Yellow and the organisers of the event Lymm Round Table. If you'd like to support them, the race is Easter Monday and events will be taking place all day in Lymm Village Centre. Carl will be sporting the number 48 and has all the best wishes of us here.
