Ducks on the Pond A Novel

By: Amy Klinger

Published by Story Plant, 2025-10-28

Reuben Downes is a Mallard. The kind that dominates the Co-Ed Fastpitch Softball League for Adults in Western Vermont, aka COFSLAW VT, aka The Coleslaw League.

As a newcomer to the team and the town, Reuben is viewed as the oddball “from away” by his teammates and the quirky, curious, often opinionated locals. So, when he puts an “art” installation in his backyard that sets off a firestorm in the community, people demand answers for what it means.

But Reuben, always more inclined to let others call the shots, keeps his motivations to himself. That is, until his inaction raises an ominous threat to the people around him. And in the real world, as with softball, when the bases are loaded and your teammates are counting on you, it’s time to step up to the plate — even if for Reuben, there’s a real possibility of striking out.

Written with sharp humor and a deep affection for small-town living, sports, and the cadence of the seasons, Ducks on the Pond is about what it takes to fully engage with life.