Eerie, Indiana fanfiction: Rubber Duck

[froodle]

The old humpback bridge at the northern end of Deadwood Park was packed with people in bright coloured shirts bearing cutesy team names. The water-logged timbers strained beneath the weight and the worm-eaten wooden safety rail creaked and bowed as contestants pushed and shoved to get closer to the water.

A net of coarse rope dangled mere inches above the fast-flowing stream, bulging with hundreds of rubber ducks bearing hand-written labels around their necks. Passing mud-snakes lunged from the water, their long jaws snapping at a target held tantalizingly out of reach.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” boomed Fred Suggs, adjusting a duck-shaped floatation device taped to his baseball cap. “The forty-second Annual Eerie Rubber Duck Race is about to begin. Please be upstanding for the starter’s pistol!”

The crowd massed on either side of the river bank quieted, standing to attention with their palms crossed over the place where the human audience members kept their hearts.

“Five!” bellowed Suggs, and the crowd chanted with him. “Four! Three! Two!”

Sergeant Knight held the gleaming silver pistol aloft and the retort echoed across the park as he fired. On the southern bank, Officer Derek shrieked and shied backwards, releasing the rope that held the ducks suspended. They poured from the sagging net in a tidal wave of yellow and orange, splashing and spinning and bobbing away over the foamy wake.

Marshall and Simon moved away from the sagging guard rail, Mars already plucking at the hem of a Team Unflappable shirt in the same hunter-green as the New York Jets. Mister Radford, resplendent in a cobalt-blue Fowl Play shirt, waved them over as they passed.

“Marshall Teller!” he exclaimed. “I didn’t think the annual Rubber Duck White Water Rapid River Race was your kind of thing.”

“It’s not,” Simon explained, as Marshall pulled the team shirt over his head and tugged himself free with unnecessary force. “We’re spying on the tuxedo ducks and this is our cover.”

“Oh,” said Mister Radford. “Well, shouldn’t he keep his disguise on?”

The old man and the small boy glanced over at Mars, who had thrown the cheap tee on the ground and was stamping it into the mud.

“I don’t think he’s all that invested,” whispered Simon.





Trusted Associates, Inc.

Halloween by froodle, in which Mars and Simon celebrate a Von Orloff-free All Hallows Eve

Surprise by froodle, in which Mars tries to make sure Simon's birthday goes a little better this year

The Glade by froodle, in which Simon and Mars visit a place that only exists on February 29th

Egg Hunt by froodle, in which Simon and Mars partake of some traditional Easter activities

Boardwalk by froodle, in which Simon and Mars are swayed by radio advertising

Lady in Red by froodle, in which Simon experiments on the old-fashioned radio in the Secret Spot, and horror ensues

Waiting In by froodle, in which there is an ice-storm and a handyman does not arrive

Seafoam by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the seaside

A Night at the Circus by froodle, in which a carnivale comes to town, and Marshall and Simon do not enjoy themselves

Taking a Break by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall enjoy some much-needed R&R

Model Railway by froodle, in which a new business prepares to open in Eerie

Shoreline by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall investigate strange happenings on the shores of Lake Eerie

Parade by froodle, in which Mars takes issue with the Eerie Beekeepers Association's choice of mascot

Homestead by froodle, in which Marshall finally gets something useful out of shop class

Hound by froodle, in which Simon makes a friend

Errands by froodle, in which Simon has a to-do list

Slyboots by froodle, in which a certain corporal of the infernal regions comes to Eerie. Crossover with Johannes Cabal the Necromancer.

Waterlogged by froodle, in which Eerie experiences heavy rainfall

Festival by froodle, in which Eerie's local businesses celebrate the summer

Strawberry by froodle, in which there is unauthorised hubbub in Eerie

Wildlife by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the beach

Facilities by froodle, in which the Eerie Bus Station and Supper Club has a problem with the men's toilet

Anticipation by froodle, in which Simon and Harley look forward to the Equinox

Castle by froodle, in which there is unexpected architecture in Eerie

Visitor in which Marshall's grandma comes to stay

Euclid by froodle, in which Marshall and Simon investigate strange events at the Eerie Cemetery

The Hut by froodle, in which Simon takes on the forces of Eerie solo