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Once upon a
time, on the
edge of the
lake, there
lived Mrs. Duck
and her little
ducklings.
Six ducklings
were born from
the last brood
of ducks. Mrs.
Duck would look
after them with
love and care.
As soon as they
were born, the
kind mother
brought them
food, placing it
in their little
beaks. As the
days went by,
Mrs. Duck
decided to teach
them how to get
food.
There was one
duckling that
would always
stay left
behind: his name
was Pepe. His
mother would
then call him:
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— Pepe, wake up!
Let’s go. You
need to learn
how to find
food.
— Does it have
to be now, mom?
Let me sleep a
little bit
longer...
She decided to
invite him again
on the next day:
— Pepe, your
brothers and I
are going to the
lake. You will
learn how to
swim today.
— Does it have
to be today? I
am feeling so
tired!
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Mrs. Duck, after
many attempts,
decided to teach
Pepe a lesson.
From this day
onwards each
duckling would
look after
itself.
On the same day,
Pepe felt quite
strange because
there was no
food there for
him to eat.
— I am hungry!
What do we have
to eat? — The
duckling
complained.
The mother
looked at him
calmly; she
moved her wings
around and
answered:
— There is
nothing. If you
want to eat, you
will have to
find your own
food just as
your brothers
do.
Pepe felt quite
irritated and
unhappy. Since
the duckling was
feeling quite
hungry, it
decided to look
for something to
eat.
Since Pepe was
used to
receiving
everything
without making
any efforts, the
little duck had
no idea where to
find or what to
do to get food.
The duck felt
quite thirsty
and decided to
go to the lake.
Pepe fell
suddenly into
the water. Since
it didn’t
receive Mrs.
Duck’s lessons,
he almost
drowned.
Mrs. Duck and
the other
ducklings, his
brothers, were
swimming
peacefully in
the lake. They
were enjoying a
beautiful sunny
morning;
suddenly, they
heard a scream
of help:
— Quack! Quack!
Help!
Mrs. Duck
recognised her
son’s voice and
hurried to go
and help him.
The other
ducklings were
having fun;
laughing at him.
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Pepe felt
humiliated and
full of shame;
he then
understood that
he was
responsible for
everything he
was going
through.
There were
always
opportunities
around for him
to learn, but he
rejected them.
Pepe didn’t
accept them due
to his lack of
interest and
laziness.
Pepe regretted
his attitudes
and started to
follow his mom
and brothers
everywhere. It
was now learning
precious
teachings from
his mother.
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He can now find
food and has
never felt
hungry again.
It’s great to
see Pepe
swimming across
the lake, right
next to his
family. He is
now so happy and
very conscious
that everything
we learn relies
on our own
personal effort.
Aunt Celia
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