It was summer! The sun was so bright and warm, it was like it was always smiling! Lucas loved summer. Summer was the best time to play outside! Lucas had just moved from their house in Charlotte to a farm with their family. They wanted to be closer to nature! Lucas loved the farm! They could play outside all day long and explore the fields and woods. Lucas had a special secret: they could talk to animals!
There was a beautiful, peaceful stream that ran through the farm, and a lake where Lucas could swim. Lucas spent hours playing in the water, watching the ducks and geese swim and splash. There were lots of animals on the farm, but Lucas was fascinated by the storks! They had long legs and walked so gracefully. Lucas would try to imitate the storks' walk, stretching their legs out and taking long steps!
One day, Lucas was playing with the ducklings in the lake when they saw a duck sitting on eggs! It was a magical moment! Lucas watched as the eggs started to crack and little ducklings hatched. But one egg, the biggest one, didn't hatch. The duck looked worried and kept sitting on it.
Days later, Lucas returned to the lake. The duck was gone! The big egg had cracked, and there was a baby duck among the others. This duckling was bigger, with different colored feathers, a different beak, and a different way of walking! It seemed sad.
Lucas went to talk to the different duckling. "Why are you sad?" Lucas asked. "There's a whole farm and a beautiful garden to explore!" The duckling replied, "I'm sad because I'm different from my brothers and sisters. I don't feel good about it. All the other ducks in the lake laugh at me, and it makes me feel bad."
Lucas said, "I love your company! I'll come back tomorrow to play!" Lucas told the duckling about their Secret forest, which was a safe place to play.
The next day, Lucas returned to the lake, but the duckling was gone! Lucas learned that the duckling was so sad that he decided to leave and find other friends. But it didn't work out. Everywhere he went, the other ducks made fun of him. It was a difficult journey. The seasons changed, and he always had to move because he never felt welcome. He only felt embraced by nature.
Lucas played by the lake every day, but they never saw their duckling friend. They played with the other animals on the farm. Lucas loved learning about all the different kinds of animals.
Spring arrived, and Lucas loved spring! But the duckling didn't like spring. It was a hard time for him. He felt very lonely. After a long and difficult journey, he found himself near the lake where he was born. He approached cautiously. He didn't want his siblings to laugh at him. But 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, Lucas went to play in the water. They recognized their friend! What a special reunion! Lucas was amazed at their friend, now a swan. They finally played joyfully!
Lucas and the swan understood that being strange wasn't wrong. It was just being who they are! Being strange is being different, and everyone is!
And isn't being different just being who we are?
