Once upon a
time, a little
duck was
swimming in a
blue lake,
enjoying the
sunny day and
the breeze that
blew gently as
it brought the
scent of flowers
that lived on
the lakeside.
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Happily, she
played with her
siblings in the
water when, as
she got a bit
away from them,
she heard
someone crying a
lot. Curious,
the little duck
began to search
for the one who
was crying so
much.
She swam slowly
to the lakeside,
looking in the
growing grass to
see if there was
some creature
there that
seemed to suffer
a lot.
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Suddenly she
stopped. The cry
was getting
louder,
indicating that
the one crying
was close.
Looking more
carefully, she
soon saw him: it
was a little
grasshopper!
Then, getting
closer to him,
she said:
- Hello! Why are
you so sad?
The little
grasshopper,
rubbing his eyes
and shaking his
wings, said:
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- I got lost
from my mom! We
were together
but I saw a
beautiful flower
and went to it,
hoping to smell
its perfume. Oh,
I love the
perfume of
flowers!...
The little duck
flapped her
wings, happily:
- I also love
the perfume of
flowers! But we
did not
introduce
ourselves.
What's your
name?
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- I'm Grassy.
What about you?
- My name is
Duffy. Nice to
meet you,
Grassy. I'll
help you look
for your mother,
don’t worry. Hop
on my back and
let’s follow the
lakeside.
Certainly she
will not be too
far.
The little
grasshopper
jumped on
Duffy’s back and
they began to
examine the
lakeside.
Suddenly Grassy
shouted:
- I see my
mother! She's
flying over
there! Mom!
Mommy... he
began to yell,
happily, until
his mother heard
him:
- My son, where
have you been? I
searched
everywhere! -
she asked,
hugging him
while glad to
have found him.
Grassy smiled
and said:
- I was very
afraid of losing
you, Mom, when
Duffy, my
friend, decided
to help me. She
let me hop on
her back and
took me around
the lake until
we find you!
The grasshopper
mom thanked the
beautiful little
duck that helped
her baby, and
with tears in
her eyes,
considered:
- If you are
ever in need of
some help, you
can count on me.
I'm your friend
for life! Thank
you, Duffy.
They embraced
and each went
their way
happily.
Some time later,
Duffy was
swimming in the
lake when she
heard the sound
of wings
accompanied by
the noise of
insects.
Curious, she
lifted her
little head from
the water and
saw a dark cloud
coming toward
her. Startled,
she sank a
little but to no
avail. "What do
these insects
want with me?" -
she thought.
Then she
remembered that
shortly before,
she had swum at
a place full of
food scraps left
by a group of
kids who had had
a picnic. Duffy
thought it would
be best to dive
to ward off the
insects.
However, they
were willing to
feed on the
remains that
were on stuck to
her back. So she
began to quack
loudly, trying
to get the
attention of
someone who
could save her.
Right then,
Grassy
recognised the
voice of his
friend and came
to her rescue,
warning the
other
grasshoppers:
- This little
duck is my
friend, you
understand? Go
find another
source of food.
Duffy helped me
and I will not
let you bother
her!
The
grasshoppers,
although not
happy about the
situation,
obeyed the
request of
Grassy who
wanted to
protect his
friend Duffy.
Even a frog
gaped! When the
grasshoppers
were gone, Duffy
thanked Grassy
with a smile for
having defended
her from his
friends:
- Thank you,
Grassy. You
showed me that
you really are a
great friend!
He landed on a
branch by the
lakeside and
said:
- I owe a lot to
you, Duffy. When
I needed help,
you helped me,
and I will
always be
grateful to you.
You can count on
me!
Grassy took
flight and,
waving his
wings, said
goodbye to his
little duck
friend.
And Duffy
understood how
important it was
to make friends.
Swimming closer
to her mother,
she told her
what had
happened:
- Mom, I had
never expected
Grassy to help
me because of
the help I gave
him, but he
recognised my
gesture and
helped me.
Then Duffy's
mother hugged
her daughter and
agreed:
- In life,
honey, whatever
we do to our
neighbour will
be returned to
us through love.
You did very
well in
protecting your
friend Grassy
and he returned
your kindness
with more
kindness.
Because love
attracts love
and hatred
attracts hatred.
The duckling
thought for a
moment and
replied:
- I am glad I
chose love,
isn’t it, Mom? I
will never
forget this
lesson. I
promise to be
good always
because I want
others to be
good to me too!
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia Xavier
de Camargo on
14.03.2016.)
