Los Tres Patitos (Spanish for “The Three Ducklings”) Waiting trapped in a rubber duck claw machine waiting to be rescued by anyone to put in dollars to win them, that is where Steve of SteveZ DuckZ came in and played and rescued three rubber ducks with two plays.

Los Tres Patitos

Left to right: Oliver a green night owl rubber duck, Smooch a pink rubber duck with a kiss emoji and Jacque the yellow rubber duck with red diamond spots on it.

The Great Rubber Duck Rebellion: It All Started at Rocky’s Pizza

Oliver, a distinguished green night owl rubber duck, possessed an air of quiet wisdom, his large yellow eyes seeming to hold the secrets of a thousand late-night pizza runs. Smooch, a vibrant pink duck perpetually puckered in a kiss emoji, radiated an infectious optimism, her cheerful hue a stark contrast to the dingy machine. And then there was Jacque, a classic yellow duck emboldened by a scattering of daring red diamond spots, a touch of rebellious flair in his buoyant form.

Their lives, until moments ago, had been a monotonous cycle of being jostled amongst their plastic brethren in the cold, unforgiving grip of the claw machine. They’d witnessed countless near misses, the agonizing sway of the metal arm, the fleeting hope in the eyes of hopeful players, and the ultimate, crushing defeat as another duck was plucked away to a life unknown.

Then came Steve of SteveZ DuckZ with a determined look and two one dollar bills. After several tense attempts, the claw descended, wobbled precariously, and then… victory! Oliver felt a lurch and was rescued.

Then came Smooch who squeaked with surprise, as she was scooped up with Jacque who held his breath as they were lifted into the blinding light and deposited into the eager hands of their rescuer.

Their initial joy at freedom soon morphed into a shared understanding. They had escaped, yes, but what about the others? The sea of yellow, blue, and purple faces they’d left behind, still trapped in their plastic prison.

That night, nestled in their new home Oliver, Smooch, and Jacque held a clandestine council.

“We can’t just forget them,” Oliver quacked softly, his wise eyes reflecting the bedroom dim light. “We know what it’s like in there. The constant fear, the false hope…”

Smooch bobbed her head vigorously, her kiss emoji practically vibrating with empathy. “We have to do something! They deserve to feel the sunshine, the splash of water that isn’t recycled arcade grime!”

Jacque, ever the bold one, chimed in, “We were chosen for a reason! Our escape wasn’t just luck. It was destiny! We are Los Tres Patitos… the Three Ducklings… and we will rescue our fellow rubber ducks!”

And so began their audacious plan. Their human, oblivious to their clandestine meetings, became their unwitting accomplice. During trips to other establishments – the bowling alley, the grocery store, even a surprisingly well-stocked laundromat – Los Tres Patitos would be strategically deployed.

Oliver, with his nocturnal instincts, became the reconnaissance expert, scouting out claw machine locations and analyzing their weaknesses. Smooch, with her irresistible charm, would often be strategically placed near the exit chutes, offering silent encouragement to any duck on the verge of freedom. And Jacque, with his daring spirit, wasn’t afraid to nudge and jostle trapped ducks, offering tactical advice on the best angles for a lucky grab.

Their methods were unconventional, their successes sporadic, but their determination was unwavering. They left behind tiny notes, scribbled on discarded fortune cookie slips and strategically placed near the machines: “Hope floats! We’re coming!” or a simple, encouraging “Quack strong!”

Rumors began to circulate amongst the arcades, malls and many more locations with whispers of unusually active claw machines, of ducks seemingly moving on their own, of fleeting glimpses of a green owl, a pink kiss, and a yellow daredevil near the prize chutes. Some dismissed it as coincidence, others as overactive imaginations fueled by too much pizza. But a few… a select few… began to believe.

Los Tres Patitos knew their mission was far from over. Claw machines lurked in every corner of the human world, each one a miniature prison for their rubbery kin. But armed with Oliver’s wisdom, Smooch’s optimism, and Jacque’s courage, Los Tres Patitos, the unlikely heroes rescued from Rocky’s Pizza, were ready to take on the world, one claw machine at a time.

Their legend was just beginning. The Great Rubber Duck Rebellion had begun, one quack, one nudge, one daring escape at a time. And somewhere, in the dimly lit corners of arcades everywhere, a flicker of hope began to rise amongst the trapped rubber ducks. Their saviors were out there. Los Tres Patitos were on the case.

---

I got these from the Claw Machine at Rocky’s Pizza in Greeneville, TN. I won them in two plays. The first play I got Jacque who is the rubber duck on the far right. My second play it scooped but the two on the left together, Oliver and Smooch.

The Allure of Rubber Duck Claw Machines