It was summer! The sun shone so brightly, making everything sparkle. Emily loved summer! The world seemed full of happy colors, like the sun was smiling. She couldn't remember what it was like to be cold, since her family had moved from their house in Philadelphia to a farm nearby.
They wanted to be closer to nature, and Emily loved that! There was so much space to run and play. Emily had a special secret – she could make flowers bloom instantly! When she touched a bud, it would open up with beautiful petals, showing all its colors.
There was a beautiful stream on the farm, and Emily loved to splash in it. She also loved to swim in the lake! The water was so cool and refreshing. Emily liked to watch the animals on the farm. She loved the storks with their long legs, walking so gracefully! Emily tried to imitate their walk, careful not to step on any little bugs or flowers. She was always so careful not to hurt anything, especially little animals.
One day, Emily was playing with the ducklings in the lake when she saw a duck sitting on a nest of eggs! The eggs started to crack, and little ducklings hatched! But one egg was much bigger than all the others. It didn't crack. The duck seemed worried and kept sitting on the big egg.
Days later, Emily went back to the lake. The duck was gone! But the big egg had cracked, and there was a different baby duckling. It was bigger than the others, with feathers of a different color, a different beak, and a different way of walking. It looked sad.
Emily, who loved making friends, went to talk to the strange duckling. "Why are you sad?" she asked. "There is so much to explore on the farm! There's a beautiful garden with lots of flowers!"
The duckling said, "I'm sad because I'm different from my brothers and sisters. Everyone laughs at me!"
"Don't worry," said Emily. "I think you're amazing! I will come back tomorrow and we can play together!"
Emily told the duckling about her secret garden, a special place where they could be alone. "It's my hiding place," she said. "It's a safe place where you can be yourself."
Emily came back the next day, but the duckling was gone. He was so sad about being different that he decided to leave the farm. He tried to find new friends, but the other ducks made fun of him everywhere he went.
It was a difficult journey. The seasons changed, and he had to move a lot. He wasn't welcomed anywhere. He only felt happy when he was in nature.
Every day, Emily went to play by the lake, hoping to see her friend, but the strange duckling was gone. She played with flowers, making them bloom instantly with her magic.
Spring arrived, and the duckling loved spring just as Emily loved summer! After a long and difficult journey, the duckling found himself back near the lake where he was born. He approached cautiously, not wanting his siblings to laugh at him. But when he reached the water, he saw his reflection! He wasn't an ugly duckling anymore! He was a beautiful swan!
That day, Emily went to play in the lake and saw her friend! She was amazed. "It's you!" she cried. "But you're a swan!"
Emily was so happy to see her friend again. They played and laughed together.
Emily and the swan learned that being different wasn't wrong. It was just being who they were. Being different made them special. And isn't being different just being who we are?
