The Annual Duck Race

Every summer, our town holds a rubber duck race on the river. Thousands of yellow rubber ducks, each with a number, are dumped off the bridge, and they float downstream to the finish line at the park.

You "adopt" a duck for five dollars, and all the money goes to the library. The first duck across the line wins a prize: this year, a year of free pizza.

The whole town lines the riverbanks to watch. Kids scream for their ducks. Old people bring lawn chairs. A local band plays on the bridge. There's a man who dresses up as a giant duck every year and does commentary through a megaphone.

My son's duck, number 2,847, came in 412th place. He was thrilled. "He tried his best," he said. We're adopting three ducks next year.