Once upon a time, in a cozy little farmyard, a mother duck was waiting for her eggs to hatch. One by one, fluffy yellow ducklings peeked out, cheeping happily. But the very last egg was…different. When it finally cracked, a large, grey duckling stumbled out. He wasn’t fluffy and yellow like his brothers and sisters. He was…well, a little bit clumsy and a lot bit grey.
The other ducklings weren’t very kind. “Look at him!” they quacked. “He’s so big and awkward! He doesn’t look like us at all!” The poor grey duckling tried to play with them, but they always left him out. Even the mother duck seemed a little disappointed. He felt very sad and lonely.
He decided to leave the farmyard. He wandered through fields and forests, hoping to find a place where he belonged. He met some chickens, but they clucked and said he was too clumsy to join their games. He tried to join a flock of geese, but they honked and said he was too grey and didn’t fly with enough grace.
Winter came, and the little grey duckling was very cold and alone. He huddled near a frozen pond, wishing he had someone to share the chilly days with. An old woman found him shivering and took him inside, but her cat and hen weren’t friendly. They teased him and made him feel even worse.
Finally, spring arrived. The grey duckling, now much bigger, saw a beautiful group of birds gliding across the pond. They were swans, with long, graceful necks and pure white feathers. He felt a strange pull towards them, but he was afraid they would reject him too.
He slowly approached, dipping his head in apology. But instead of turning away, the swans welcomed him! He looked at his reflection in the water and gasped. He wasn’t a clumsy, grey duckling anymore. He had grown into a magnificent swan himself!
He realized that he hadn’t been ugly at all, just different. He was meant to be a swan, and he finally found a place where he truly belonged. He swam with his new family, feeling happy and proud of who he was.
From that day on, he learned that it’s okay to be different. In fact, being different is what makes you special! And he always remembered to be kind to others, because he knew what it felt like to be left out. So close your eyes now, little one, and remember that you are wonderful just the way you are.