A Magnificent Belly Slide

I positioned my flippers at the very crest of the curved playground slide, preparing for an afternoon of high-speed aerodynamics. The midday warmth had smoothed the molded plastic into a marvelous runway. Tucking my wings back like a sleek torpedo, I leaned forward and let gravity take full charge of my rounded tummy. What a dizzying whoosh! The breeze whistled past my bill as I banked neatly around the curve, spinning half a circle before shooting out onto the soft bed of woodchips below with a muffled squeak. A thoroughly dignified descent, and my waddle has never felt so wonderfully buoyant.