Tell me a duck story
Once upon a time in a charming little village bordered by a sparkling blue lake, there lived a curious duck named Della. Della was not like the other ducks in the village; while most of them preferred to waddle along the shore and dabble in the water, Della dreamed of grand adventures beyond her cozy home.
One sunny morning, as Della paddled along the water's edge, she spotted a colorful hot air balloon rising into the sky. The balloon danced against the clouds like a giant flower blooming in the blue expanse. Della's heart fluttered with excitement. “I want to see the world from up there!” she quacked to herself.
Determined to experience the thrill of soaring high above her village, Della waddled to the edge of the lake and summoned her friends, a wise old turtle named Toby and a sprightly little squirrel named Squeak.
“Toby! Squeak!” she called. “Let’s go find that hot air balloon and see the world from the sky!”
Toby, sensing her determination, nodded slowly, “Adventure can be wonderful, but we must be clever about it, Della.” Squeak, always eager for fun, squeaked excitedly, “I’m in! Let’s do it!”
Together, the trio set off on their quest. They traveled through fields filled with wildflowers, crossed a gentle stream, and climbed a small hill that overlooked the village. From the top, they spotted the hot air balloon, now grounded, by the edge of a grassy meadow.
With excitement bubbling in her chest, Della quacked to her friends, “Wait here! I’ll go talk to the balloonist!” She waddled over to the brightly colored balloon where a friendly looking man was packing away the balloon.
“Excuse me, sir!” Della quacked, puffing up her feathers. “Could you take me for a ride in your balloon? I’ve always dreamed of seeing the world from the sky!”
The man chuckled softly, crouching down to Della’s eye level, “Well, little duck, I’d be happy to take you for a ride! But, you see, I need someone to help me with the balloon while we’re up there. It requires a bit of teamwork!”
Della thought for a moment, then called out to Toby and Squeak, “Come join me! I may need help!” The duo hurried over, eager to assist.
After a quick explanation of how to handle the balloon, the three friends hopped aboard as the man prepared for ascent. Slowly, the balloon lifted off the ground, and Della’s heart soared with it. As the world below shrank, she gasped in delight.
From high above, everything looked magical—the village looked like a patchwork quilt, the trees waved like tiny green hands, and the shimmering lake glistened under the sun.
“This is amazing!” Della quacked joyfully, flapping her wings in excitement. Toby and Squeak couldn’t stop cheering either; they were thrilled to be part of such an incredible adventure.
As they floated gently in the air, the man pointed out various sights: the distant mountains, the winding river, and even a tiny farm where the animals were happily grazing. Della realized that although she had once thought of exploring as a solo journey, it was even richer when shared with friends.
After a joyful ride, the balloon descended back to the meadow. Della thanked the kind balloonist and turned to her friends, “That was the best adventure ever! Thank you both for joining me!”
Toby smiled wisely, “Remember, Della, adventure is always better when you have friends by your side.”
From that day on, Della and her friends had many more adventures—sometimes in the skies, sometimes on the ground—but each journey reminded them of the power of dreaming big and the joy of friendship. And so, Della’s heart continued to soar, captivated by the world around her, all while surrounded by her beloved friends.
And they all lived happily ever after.