DUCKS SLEEP IN A PARKING LOT*

Thirsk is a small town in the north of England. People like to shop in the town's market and visit its beautiful buildings. In the evening, people also like to visit the parking lot in the center of the town. There, they see something very unusual. A large group of ducks sleeps in that parking lot every night.(lines 1–8)
These ducks spend all day in the river near the town. But every evening, they leave the river and walk to the parking lot. "The ducks go to the parking lot because it's warm there," explains Mary Smith, who lives in the town. "Ducks like to sleep somewhere warm."(lines 9–12)
But it is dangerous for the ducks to walk to the parking lot. The roads near the river are full of cars. So people in the town help the ducks cross the roads safely. In the evening, they walk with the ducks to the parking lot. Then, in the morning, they go with the ducks back to the river.(lines 13–15)
Many people in the town want to help the ducks. Mary is one of them. She walks with the ducks every Sunday morning. Then she drinks coffee next to the river. "It is a lovely way to start my day," she says.(lines 16–18)