Thread by @DrTobyGilbert

As I got into work this morning, two ducks and eight ducklings were trying to cross a busy road that splits into ten lanes at the intersection. I hope no one was filming because I made a right show of myself.

They had made it across the first two lanes and were trying to get up a high curb of the island, only two of the ducklings couldn't get up. So obviously I run over to help, only the drake wasn't all that pleased.

I stop traffic and try to lift the two lagging ducklings up the curb as the drake flies repeatedly at my head.

I'm batting him away with one arm, trying to grab the ducklings with my free and shouting "I'M ONLY TRYING TO HELP," at no one in particular.

Now the duck family has to cross three lanes of traffic to get to the median strip (and get away from the lunatic trying to interfere with them).

The commuters are good and stop their cars, but of course the same two ducklings aren't able to get up the curb again...

"I TOLD YOU I'M ONLY TRYING TO HELP!!"

Drivers are stopped and enjoying the spectacle. I'm learning a grudging respect for the drake.

My blood pressure is up and the ducks are taking a rest. The temptation is to leave them here on the median strip, but I'd only worry about them, so I begin to shepherd (duckherd?) the little cuties across.

The drake keeps turning to hiss at me, but doesn't attack.

They decide to climb through a large, low succulent and two of the babies get stuck for a while, so I'm properly late for work now. They eventually appear the other side.

I stop traffic and the ducks cross three more lanes onto the traffic island. Two can't get up the curb.

I begin to question my life choices.

I take a run at it, scoop and half throw the two stragglers before dad gets a chance to fly at me. The ducklings I just propelled across the traffic island are OK, I think, and we only have two lanes of traffic to go.

At this point, an older Mediterranean lady joins us and delights in the ducklings' progress, as if they shouldn't be dead already.

I'm sweaty and dissheveled and beginning to wonder if I'm not interfering with nature by repeatedly saving the two runts.

She presses the pedestrian button, the light goes red, but the ducks decide it's not time to cross yet.

The drivers stopped at the light get to witness a mad man shouting obscenities at a family of waterfowl.

Another cycle of the lights and they do cross this time and miraculously find the ramped part of the curb for pedestrians so I don't need to intervene any more.

The ducks waddle towards a park.

I get into work and am a bit shook tbh.