Theme: Pride

The proud duckling

There was a field with a very large lagoon. There were several families of animals around the lagoon.

One of them was the duck family, which was very large and beautiful. Mother Duck had laid many eggs, and from them beautiful ducklings were born, they were more like yellow pompoms.

Every day, Ms. Duck took her pups to swim in the lake. As they passed, they caught the attention of other animals, who greeted them kindly:

- Good morning, Ms. Duck; good morning ducklings!

Ms. Duck always returned the greeting. Arriving at the lagoon, she was the first to enter in the water. One by one, her little children went too, and the fun began.

Over the days, the ducklings became used to that routine. But one of the ducklings, noting how much he was admired, found himself very special. Noticing the differences between him and the other pups that also swam in the pond, he often made mean comments and had disrespectful attitudes toward others.

- Here comes that big neck! - He said, referring to the heron's cub - Besides ugly, he can't swim, what a horror! I don't know how he can stand it!

The duckling called the owl family weird. The toucan was 'big nose'. Almost every neighbor received an evil nickname from him.

One day a black swan cub came swimming happily across the pond. It was the first time he had been swimming alone, and he was glad to be learning new things. But when he met the proud duckling, his joy was over.

The duckling, looking the visitor up and down, exclaimed unabashedly:

- Who is this, that I've never seen here? It looks like a duck, only very ugly! Big, necked, and with that gray down. You look dirty. Why don't you take some dips to clean you up?

The little swan, frightened by this spontaneous aggression, felt so bad that his eyes filled with tears. Saying nothing, he just turned and walked away, swimming quickly.

The duckling's brothers were ashamed of his brother's behavior and fought with him over it.

Mr. Duck, when she heard about it, was also very disappointed and went to talk to her son:

- My son, this is not the first time I have told you to combat this pride. You have your qualities, but you have flaws too, like everyone else. You only know how to see the good in you and the bad in others! Pride is one of the greatest moral defects we can have, and it is totally contrary to God's Laws. Do you know what is the result of our disrespect for Divine Laws? The unhappiness!

The next day, the duckling could not go swimming. His mother forbade him for not behaving well and having time to think about what she had explained him. But, unfortunately, it was no use. The duckling paid no attention to his mother's advice.

Time passed and the duckling grew. His appearance has changed a lot. Its fluffy yellow plumage has given way to white feathers with brown spots. Some puppies, such as the Crane, were much larger than him, who had short legs and walked awkwardly.

He was no longer swimming at ease in the lagoon, for he had made many enmities. Almost all the neighbors had no sympathy for him, and some, who could not forgive him, were true enemies from which he had sometimes fought them.

One day, he decided to swim a lot and cross the lagoon to the other side. When he got there, he saw the black swan, also grown. He was beautiful, with very black, shiny feathers, curled at the ends. His beak was very red, contrasting with the black body. He was large and his bent neck gave him an imposing air.

The duckling stopped and thought for a moment. He was ashamed of his past attitudes. His eyes filled with tears of regret as he realized how wrong he had been. He turned then and swam back home.

On the way, he remembered his mother's advice and recognized that she was right. Something then changed inside him. The duck, who once enjoyed exalting himself and diminishing others, finally understood that humility is the path of real happiness.

Determined to get better, he stepped out of the pond and shook the feather to water out. He looked at the owls, who were always there watching everything and said gently:

- Good morning, owls! What a beautiful day today, isn't it?

The owls were very surprised, because he had never greeted them. After a few seconds, one of them answered:

- Good morning to you too, duckling!

The duckling was happy and encouraged. He knew it would take a long time, but he was willing to apologize to those he had harmed and be kind to everyone from that moment.
 

Translation:
Larissa Martine - larissa_am@hotmail.com

marcelapradacontato@gmail.com