Fowl Tender: Celina 52 Cashier Accepts Live Mallard as $20 Bill

CROSSVILLE, TN — A cashier at the Celina 52 Truck Stop accepted a live mallard duck as legal tender Thursday morning after apparently mistaking the waterfowl for a standard $20 bill. The transaction, which covered a tank of unleaded gas, was successfully processed before the clerical error was discovered.

The employee, officially designated by management as the "Attractive Female Cashier" (AFC), was photographed shortly after the incident in a state of visible confusion. She stood near the hot food display case—which currently advertises mini corn dogs for $2.99—looking deeply bewildered while clutching the large bird by its abdomen. The mallard kept its wings partially extended over a nearby pallet of bottled water as patrons purchasing motor oil watched the standoff in silence.

Truck stop officials confirmed the financial discrepancy occurred when a drawer audit revealed feathers instead of fiat currency. "AFC will undergo intensive remedial training to properly identify legitimate US currency," management stated in a press release. "Our goal is to ensure incidents of trading petroleum for local wildlife happen with significantly less frequency moving forward." The duck is currently being secured in the manager's drop safe until armored transit arrives for pickup.