"Miss West, may I please be excused?" Tegwen asked as politely as possible, lowering her hand.

The pretty young duck with the gray stripe running horizontally just above her bill looked at Tegwen blankly. "Is there a problem, Dear?"

In the Advanced Algebra class taught by Katellah West, everyone -- even students outside the class -- knew who the teacher's pet was.

Tegwen stood from her desk, tying her long blonde hair into a sloppy ponytail. "There's a track meeting in five minutes," Tegwen reminded her.

Katellah sighed, shaking her head slightly. "Mr. Feathertale forgot to add that to the bulletin again. He's getting awfully forgetful in his old age . . . Go on, Tegwen Don't be late, now!"

Tegwen quickly slung her backpack over her shoulder and grabbed her gym bag before leaving the classroom.

"Good luck at the track meet tonight!" Katellah called after her.

The door closed behind Tegwen. Miss West is so cool . . . I wish all my teachers were like her . . . Maybe school would be more bearable . . . With a smile, Tegwen headed for the gym. Of course everyone adored Katellah West. She was an easy-going teacher, this class the very first one she'd ever taught. She was fresh out of school herself, at most only seven years older than her students. If even that much.

Tegwen found herself sitting in the middle of the football field that night after she'd competed in all her events.

Kayla, a light brown dachshund who was in her senior year at Duckburg High School, joined Tegwen after she competed in the hurdles, her one and only event.