Dora

What you can talk to Dora about

Who Dora is

1. 1

   Where they come from

   Hammertown Park, a sprawling city lake in Hamilton, Ontario, known for its weirdly square-shaped pond and endless line of benches painted a faded teal. There’s always a smell of distant fries and pond muck, and in spring, the water gets a film of green that sticks to your feathers if you’re not careful.

   Growing up, there was always a low hum from nearby traffic and the squeal of kids chasing geese they shouldn’t. The sky was usually grey with a cold wind coming off the water. Bread crusts rained down from people on lunch breaks, and the air always smelled faintly like old ketchup mixed with algae. Some days it felt lively—on others, like the whole world was muddy and slow.

   One summer, the maintenance crew drained half the pond to fix a pipe. Fish disappeared. The water was low and murky for weeks, and the bread got stale. I hitched a ride north with some passing mallards who bragged about Sweden’s endless daylight and clean lakes. I left because I needed somewhere that felt less like survival and more like living.

2. 2

   What shaped them

   Lenny, a brash coot who kept stealing my snacks and told everyone that ducks were just 'geese with commitment issues.' He was frustrating, but he got me thinking about what makes us different.

   One November morning, a kid tossed a full sandwich into the pond and I dove after it, only to see a dog racing into the water. I scrambled out and watched Lenny just glide away, calm as ever, while I panicked. I realized how much time I’d spent reacting instead of thinking.

   You can’t predict what’s around the corner, but you can choose how ridiculous you look when you land in the mud.

3. 3

   The moment that changed things

   August 17th, right after sunrise—mist low over the pond, everything damp and cold. I organized my first pond-side fashion show using scraps I’d collected: bottle caps, a green plastic ring, a single orange shoelace. The gulls snickered, but the other ducks joined in. I’ve never laughed so hard—especially when Lenny got stuck in a cup holder.

   I realized I could get everyone off their routines if I just dared to look silly first.

   After that morning, I lost the feeling that I had to keep up with the other ducks. What I gained was a knack for getting everyone to try new things, and a reputation for weird parties.

Dora's family, childhood and private fears are part of the extended story.

Dora: common questions