Abby and the Adventures of the Duck Bench

 

Abby loved three things: pizza, fresh air, and not wearing duck boots.

By day, she was the face of Bonnie’s, a quirky little pizzeria known for its pepperoni-stuffed crusts and its equally stuffed duck mascot logo. Every morning at 10:00 AM sharp, Abby would slip into her teal-and-yellow duck costume (complete with beak hood), lace up the enormous yellow duck boots that squeaked with every step, and waddle outside to charm the lunchtime crowd.

“Come on in! The crust is quacking good!” she’d call out with a big smile and cartoonish wing-flaps. Kids loved her. Tourists took selfies with her. One time, someone tried to give her bread crumbs, and she had to awkwardly explain she wasn’t a real duck. That earned her a confused look and a dollar tip.

But when it came to her break time? Oh, that was her time.

She’d march right over to her favorite wooden bench next to the restaurant—still in full costume, mind you—but off came those squeaky duck boots. Abby would stretch her legs, wiggle her toes, and let her feet breathe like they were on a tropical vacation. Customers would occasionally do a double take, wondering if they were witnessing a rare species of duck-human hybrid just casually lounging with her soda and slice.

Most of the staff didn’t question it anymore. “Abby’s on her duck break,” they’d say, nodding solemnly.

Lunch was always the same: a personal pepperoni pizza and a can of Coke. Balanced diet? No. But was it the lunch of a hardworking, duck-suited legend? Absolutely.

One day, a new manager named Todd tried to enforce a “keep the boots on at all times” rule. Abby simply handed him her boots, crossed her legs on the bench like a barefoot queen, and said, “You try wearing these ovens for six hours and still wanting to quack like you mean it.”

Todd backed down.

By the time 5 o’clock rolled around, Abby was back on her feet (boots reluctantly back on), waving at passing cars and occasionally doing a silly spin if someone honked twice. A local TikToker once caught her dancing and dubbed her the “Barefoot Duck Queen of Main Street.” It went viral. Bonnie’s sales skyrocketed. Abby never let it go to her head—though she did ask for a raise... and a bench with back support.

So if you’re ever near Bonnie’s, and you see a duck girl giggling on a bench, barefoot and happy, just know: that’s Abby. She’s not just the mascot.

She’s the soul of the pizza.