It was summer! The sun was shining so bright, and the flowers were blooming in every color! Michael loved summer! Everything seemed cheerful and colorful, as if the sun was always smiling!
Michael's family had moved from their house in Austin to a farm nearby. They wanted to be closer to nature! Michael loved the move! He could play freely there, especially with his superpower - flying like an eagle! He would soar above the fields, feeling the wind in his hair, and look down at all the animals below.
There was a beautiful, peaceful stream on the farm, and a lake where Michael could swim! He loved to splash in the water and dive for pebbles at the bottom. There were many animals on the farm, but Michael was always fascinated by the storks. They had such long legs and walked so gracefully! Michael tried to imitate their walk, slowly and carefully, just like the storks.
One day, Michael was playing with the ducklings in the lake when he noticed a duck sitting on eggs! What a magical moment! Michael saw the eggs starting to crack, and little ducklings hatched! But one egg, the largest of all, didn't hatch. The duck seemed worried but kept sitting on it.
Days later, Michael returned to the lake, and the duck was no longer there! The large egg had cracked, and among the ducklings, there was another baby, bigger, with different colored feathers, a different beak, and a different manner. It seemed sad.
Michael, who easily made friends with animals, went to talk to the different duckling. "Why are you sad?" Michael asked. "There's a whole farm and a beautiful garden to explore!"
The duckling replied, "I'm sad because I'm different from my siblings. All the other ducks in the lake laugh at me and make me feel bad."
"No, no!" Michael said. "We would love your company! Come play with us tomorrow!" Michael told the duckling about his hiding place, Enchanted lake, which could be a safe place for them to play!
Michael returned the next day as promised, but the duckling was no longer there. He was so sad that he decided to leave and try to find other friends. But this didn't work out either. Everywhere he went, the other ducks mocked him.
It was a difficult journey for the duckling. The seasons changed, and he always had to move because he never seemed to be welcomed. He only felt embraced by nature.
Michael played by the lake every day but never saw his duckling friend. He played with the birds, watching them fly and sing, fascinated by their feathers and their songs.
Spring arrived, and the duckling loved spring just as Michael loved summer! After a long and difficult journey, the duckling found himself near the lake where he was born. He approached cautiously, not wanting his siblings to laugh at him. But when he reached the water's edge, he saw his reflection, like in a mirror! He was no longer an ugly duckling but a beautiful swan! That's why everyone thought he was so strange!
That day, Michael went to play in the water and recognized his friend! What a special reunion! Michael was amazed at his friend, now a swan. They finally played joyfully!
Michael and the swan understood that being strange wasn't wrong, but just being who they are! Being strange is being different, and everyone is!
And isn't being different just being who we are?
