Tick Quack Toe

    "Alright folks, it's time for that beloved game of our town, Tick Quack Toe!" Earl Fancy, the announcer called out.

    The contestants came out wearing their uniforms and took their places at the board. The two players, Ashley and Ian, stood at opposite side of the nine-square grid, while the five toe-wigglers slid themselves underneath. As soon as their bare feet were in place through the holes in the board, Earl called out for the ducklings.

    A big strong man, Kevin, brought out a container of ducklings and set it at the side of the table. He departed with cheers from the crowd, relishing in the height of his fame.

    Earl commenced the game, and the two contestants began playing. Ashley won the thumb war, so she went first. The goal was to get three quacks in a row, with bonus points given to notable reactions from the toe- wigglers.

    Alternating turns, Ashley and Ian placed ducklings in strategic squares, each one usually earning a squeal from one of the toe-wigglers upon the fowl's nibble. For some time, the quacks alternated one or two in a row before being interrupted by a quack from one of the opponent's ducklings. And ducklings still having the group mentality that they do, they naturally congregated into one of the corners. That toe-wiggler drew quite the reaction from the crowd.

    Eventually, though, the players found their groove and managed to enter a competitive duel of duckling placement. It looked like Ashley was just about to get her third quack in a row, when the ducklings waddled over to an adjacent square, leaving the perfect spot for Ian to place his final duck.

    He seized the opportunity and placed the duck in the open spot. Three quacks, and three squeals from the toe-wigglers later, Ian won the town Tick Quack Toe match. The toe-wigglers exited their spots and hoisted Ian up on their shoulders, tiptoeing him up to the podium where Earl crowned him their year's Tick Quack Toe winner. Ian and Ashley shook hands, then bid each other the best of luck until next year's likely rematch.