Central Plains FFA Chapter

06/22 11:42 CDT Merlin the duck steals the spotlight at President Sheinbaum's news briefing Merlin the duck steals the spotlight at President Sheinbaum's news briefing MEXICO CITY (AP) --- Wearing the green jersey of Mexico's national soccer team and a FIFA tie, he waddled into the room ahead of President Claudia Sheinbaum, took a seat facing reporters and quickly became the star of her Monday morning news briefing. Merln the duck --- Mexico's unofficial World Cup mascot --- didn't take any questions; his owner, Carla Gmez, did that for him. Gmez, a street vendor who sells water and soft drinks, introduced her family with pride and determination, presenting them as representative of countless other working-class Mexicans. "We are the working part" of Mexico, she said. Sitting beside the lectern, with Merln at the center, were her sons, Carlos, 22, and Cristian, 14, who "doesn't rest after school" and helps her every day by selling goods and carrying packages. Merln, he said, is "the boss of our little business. He's the one who follows behind us, making sure we're working and doing things the right way." The family takes great care with his diet, feeding him small fish, crickets and, on Sundays, even a meat taco. Gmez said she was moved by the way Merln captured the hearts of World Cup fans. "It has been the best thing that has happened to us in this life," she said, though she noted that other ducks the family had owned also became local celebrities in Mexico City's historic center, including Bruna, who wore tennis shoes. Gmez said she believes the family went viral because people saw in them "a hard-working family, a family that gets up every day to make ends meet." The president eventually had to cut off questions to move the news conference along, but not before trying to pet Merln and posing for a photo with the family. ___ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america