It was summer! The sun was shining so bright, like it was always smiling. Everything was happy and colorful! It felt like the summer had come to say hello. Henry loved summer!
Henry's family had moved from their house in San Antonio to a farm near the city. They wanted to be closer to nature, and Henry's family was very happy about it.
Henry loved the farm! He could play outside all day long, and he could talk to the fish in the lake! It was a secret superpower he had. Henry could talk to fish, and they could talk to him! It was so much fun!
There was a beautiful stream on the farm, and a lake where Henry could swim and play with the fish. Henry loved to explore the farm and see all the animals. The storks were his favorites! He loved watching them walk around the farm with their long legs. They walked so gracefully! Henry would try to imitate them, walking around on his tippy-toes.
One day, Henry was playing with the ducklings in the lake when he saw a duck sitting on eggs! He watched as the eggs started to crack, and little ducklings came out. It was so magical! But one egg, the biggest one of all, didn't crack. The duck seemed worried.
Days later, Henry came back to the lake. The duck was gone! The big egg had cracked, and there was a new duckling. This duckling was bigger than the others, and he had different colored feathers, a different beak, and a different way of moving. He looked very sad.
Henry always made friends with animals. He went over to the strange duckling and asked him why he was sad. "There's a whole farm and a beautiful garden to explore! Why are you so sad?" Henry asked.
"I'm sad because I'm different from my siblings," the duckling said. "All the other ducks in the lake laugh at me, and it makes me feel bad."
"I don't think they should laugh at you," said Henry. "We'll be your friends! Come play with us tomorrow!"
Henry told the duckling about his secret hiding place, a world underwater that he called "Underwater World". He told the duckling, "It's a safe place to play. We can hide there, and no one will laugh at you."
The next day, Henry came back to the lake, but the duckling was gone. Henry asked the other ducklings where he was, but they all shook their heads. Henry was worried.
The duckling was so sad that he decided to leave and find new friends. But it didn't work out. Everywhere he went, the other ducks laughed at him. It was a difficult journey for the duckling. The seasons changed, and he had to move all the time because he never felt welcome. He only felt comfortable in nature.
Henry played by the lake every day, but he never saw his duckling friend again. Henry spent his time with his favorite friends, the fish.
Spring arrived, and the duckling loved spring, just as Henry loved summer. After a long and difficult journey, the duckling found himself near the lake where he was born. He was afraid to go back, but he slowly walked towards the water. When he reached the water's edge, he saw his reflection. He was no longer an ugly duckling. He was a beautiful swan! That's why everyone thought he was so strange!
That day, Henry went to play in the water. He saw his friend! It was the duckling, but now he was a swan. Henry was so happy to see him! "You're a swan!" Henry exclaimed. "You're so beautiful!"
The swan and Henry played in the lake, and Henry realized that being different wasn't a bad thing. It was just being who you are. Everyone is different, and that's okay!
And isn't being different just being who we are?
