Fine Day for a Swimming Lesson

       “Top o’ the morning to you all,” Charley announced. His cheery ‘get up and cockle-doodle-do’ had everyone up on their toes very early this morning.

      About that time, Jenny called over her shoulder, “I know something you don’t know,” as she ran out the door. “Here comes Mrs. Puddleduck  with her four little ducklings.”

     Right up to the white picket fence came Mrs. Puddleduck and she looked past all the friends gathering to greet her and her little ones at the gate

    “Oh let’s look at you!” Miz Maddie clucked excitedly. “You look wonderful and just look at your new little group. Please come in.”

     Mrs. Puddleduck and her four little yellow followers rounded the gate and stood happily in a line inside the yard.

     “We’re so glad you came by!” Jenny said, closing the gate behind them. “Are you headed to the Rhinestone River?”

     “Yes,” Mrs. Puddleduck replied, looking ever-so-proudly at her four offspring.  “It’s a perfect day to see if they can learn to swim. The sun is warm and the river is low.”

     “Let me introduce them,” and she touched each one with her wing, “this is Olive, Oscar, Otis, and Ozzie”

     “I think you know all my children,” Miz Maddie said beaming, but let me introduce my young’uns to your new arrivals.” And she proceeded to introduce her girls Lucy, Minnie, Jennie, Annie, and her boys, Brownie and Charley.”

        Right that second, Miz Maddie’s eye caught Brownie pecking at Otis’s foot.

     “Ouch, that hurts,” squealed the duckling, looking over at his mother to see if she was going to do something about that chicken.

 “Oh, my! What in the world were you doing, Brownie?” Miz Maddie lit into her offspring. “That’s no way to treat a new friend.”

  “But, Mama, look! He’s joined between his toes.”

    “That’s right,” Mrs. Puddleduck quickly intervened, and ever-so-sweetly explained to Brownie, “that’s how they swim.”

    While Brownie and all his siblings stared at the newcomer’s feet, Mrs. Puddleduck had a marvelous suggestion, “Why don’t you all come down to the river with us and we’ll see if the ducklings feet can serve as paddles.”

     And so they did.  The chicken crew watched wide-eyed as Otis, Olive, Ozzie, and Oscar displayed amazing skills on their first try at paddling behind their mother.  Mrs. Puddleduck was so very proud.

    Back at the house, Brownie was distraught by the whole affair. “If chickens can’t swim, what are they good for anyway?”

     You could feel the weight of the world hanging on his shoulders before his mother kindly addressed the issue. “I know one thing you can be very happy about,” she offered. “You are the only bunch in town Mister Murphy counts on to save his lawn every summer.” She waited to see if that sunk in, then continued, ”Yes, every other week he invites all of you over to “bug-free” his lawn.  You always have the best time because he serves you marshmallows after you finish!”

       Brownie thought about that a long time, about all those juicy bugs and grasshoppers they always found in Mister Murphy’s lawn.  Then he turned triumphantly to Minnie, Lucy, Annie, Jenny, and Charley, “I’m glad to be a chicken, aren’t you?” And that ended the matter.

     “Yes, indeed,” they all agreed.