About the winner:

Make way for ducklings, indeed! This kind of weather is perfect for ducks on holiday, but last week's caption contest winner, Eric Heartquist, had a more serious message. The retired elevator operator, from Andover, said he was saddened by the recent death of a mother duck in a parking lot on the Cape. Heartquist's entry bested hundreds of entrants, some with references to Ducks Unlimited and a quack named Boras. For his trouble, Heartquist wins a copy of illustrator Peter Wallace's "Cartoon Boston,'' a funny take on our town.

Cartoon caption contest
Winner: Five tickets, please. I hope this is safer than crossing that parking lot.
Eric Heartquist
Andover
Runners-up: I normally wouldn't be looking for work outside the nest, but people aren't throwing out popcorn like they used to, and as you can see, I've got a gaggle of mouths to feed.
Dave Jones, Westbrook

Now, this is our kind of weather. We'll take the family package please and can we have the convertible?
Bob Harris, Methuen

I'd like to file a complaint. One of your vehicles quacked up on Beacon Street and narrowly missed us as we were entering the Public Garden.
Dave Peterson, Milford

I know you get minimum wage, just don't eat me.
Issay Matsumoto, Belmont

One adult and four children for the Ducks Unlimited tour please. Oh, one more thing, we won't be needing any life preservers.
Donald Mahn, Wakefield

You won't hire us?! Look, the economy is slow, we're from Boston so we know the city, and in case you haven't noticed, your company is called 'Duck Tours!' Not 'People Tours!'
Eric Spector, Somerville

I think you are taking our sign far too literally...
DJ Salmon, Charlestown

Yes, my name is Quack Boras and I believe my four clients are entitled to compensation for use of their image on your boats.
Cliff Charney, Swampscott

The chicken told us not to cross the road...can we get a ride?
Steve Garrant, Lisbon Falls, Maine

PHOTO GALLERY The best of 2008
DISCLAIMER: Caption winners are chosen by a panel of Globe employees. Material submitted for the caption contest may appear in other forms.



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