Once upon a time, on a bright, sunny morning, a fluffy yellow duckling named Dilly waddled to the edge of a shiny, blue pond. The pond went, “Splash! Splash! ” as tiny fish tickled its surface.
Dilly’s mama stood close and clapped her wings. “You can do it, Dilly! Little ducks grow brave. ” Dilly looked at the water.
It sparkled like tiny stars. Dilly felt a wobble of worry. “But Mama, what if I sink? ” Mama Duck gave a soft quack.
“Water holds you up. Feel the sun. Feel your strong feet. Try one tiny step.
” Dilly took one teeny, tiny step. “Wibble-wobble! ” went the pebbles under his orange feet. The pond giggled, “Splash!
Come play! ” Dilly’s heart thumped. He closed his eyes, opened them wide, and asked the wind, “Can I really do this? ” The wind whispered, “Yes, little one.
Zoom! ” Dilly counted: “One… two… THREE! ” Whoosh! He jumped - so high that the sun kissed his fuzzy head.
Then - SPLASH! Cool water hugged Dilly’s tummy. Bubbles popped: “Pop! Pop!
Pop! ” Dilly blinked. “I’m FLOATING! I didn’t sink!
” Mama Duck flapped her wings. “Hooray! Hooray! My brave baby!
” Dilly kicked his little orange feet. “Kick-kick-kick! ” The pond laughed, “Wheee! You tickle me!
” Fish danced around Dilly like tiny silver rainbows. “Welcome, welcome! ” they sang. Dilly paddled in circles.
Round and round he went. “I did it, Mama! Watch me spin! ” Mama Duck nodded.
“See? Brave hearts feel scared, then try anyway. ” Dilly felt proud. “I’m brave!
I’m brave! ” he chirped. A gentle breeze pushed little waves toward Dilly. “Rock-a-bye, little duck, rock-a-bye,” the water hummed.
Dilly floated on his back. The sky looked like a big blue blanket. Clouds made fluffy shapes: a bunny, a boat, a heart. Suddenly - plop!
A silver fish jumped right over Dilly’s beak. “Surprise! ” Dilly giggled. “Silly fish!
You scared me, but now I laugh! ” He paddled faster. “Zoom-zoom-zoom! ” The pond clapped with tiny wave-hands.
“Splash-splash-splash! ” But soon Dilly felt a small shiver. “Mama, I’m getting cold. ” Mama Duck stretched out her wing.
“Come back, brave one. Warm hugs wait. ” Dilly turned toward shore. “Kick-kick-kick.
” He reached the edge. Mama wrapped her wings around him like a feathery blanket. “Snuggle-snuggle,” she cooed. Dilly’s feathers dried in the warm sun.
He yawned a happy yawn. “I swam all alone. I was scared, but I tried. Then I smiled!
” Mama kissed his fuzzy head. “And tomorrow you’ll swim even farther. Brave keeps growing. ” Dilly’s eyes sparkled.
“Tomorrow I’ll race the fish! Whoosh! ” They cuddled together under a buttercup, listening to the pond sing, “Splash, splash, brave little splash. ” And every time the sun rose bright, Dilly remembered: big feelings are okay, trying is magic, and Mama’s love is always warm.
The end.