The Duck Without A Quack

Where the muse beckons, we have to follow….a children’s story from my pen...

Once upon a time there was a Mama Duck who had 5 baby ducks.

4 of the 5 baby ducks quacked.

But one Baby Duck didn’t.

Mama Duck was worried and had Papa Duck take him to Doctor Duck.

The doctor said, “Baby Duck , “Open your mouth wide and stick your tongue out and say “Aaah”

So Baby Duck opened its mouth wide and stuck its tongue out and said “Aaah”.

 “Everything looks alright”, said Doctor Duck to Papa Duck; “just give Baby Duck plenty of water and his quack will be back.”

Papa Duck took Baby Duck home and gave him plenty of water.

That evening as all the baby ducks gathered round Mama to hear their bedtime story before bed, Mama Duck said, “now who wants to hear a story?’.

4 baby ducks said Quack, but one baby duck opened its mouth wide and said “Aah”.

 “I see the problem,” said Papa Duck to Mama Duck, “when we went to Doctor Duck, Doctor Duck told Baby Duck to say aah”.

 “Well, if that didn’t work, maybe you can take him to Shaman Duck tomorrow” said Mama Duck.

Shaman Duck knew how to do all sorts of magic.

So Papa Duck took Baby Duck to Shaman Duck, hoping Shaman Duck would help Baby Duck say Quack.

 “No problem “said Shaman Duck and he said “Web Deb Web Deb” while we waved a wand over Baby Duck.

 “Take him home and give him lots of water and by evening, he will quack like his brothers and sisters”.

That evening as all the baby ducks gathered round Mama to hear their bedtime story before bed, Mama Duck said, “now who wants to hear a story?”.

4 baby ducks said Quack, but one baby duck said “Moo” in a deep loud voice.

The other baby ducks jumped.  Mama Duck jumped.  Papa Duck jumped.

A cow mooed back from a nearby cowshed.

 “Well, that didn’t work,” said Mama Duck. “Perhaps we should get Baby Duck a tutor. Take Baby Duck to Lake School tomorrow and ask Teacher Duck to teach Baby Duck to Quack.

So Papa Duck took Baby Duck to Lake School to ask Teacher Duck to teach Baby Duck to say Quack.

Papa Duck went to a classroom, found 2 empty seats for Baby Duck and himself and they waited along with the other student ducks in the classroom for Teacher Duck to arrive.

When Teacher Duck arrived, the student ducks stood up and said “Good Morning Teacher Duck.” Papa Duck made Baby Duck stand up too.

Teacher Duck gave the lesson and Papa Duck and Baby Duck listened quietly with the other students.

When Teacher Duck was finished, Papa Duck said “Thank you, Teacher Duck.  We so want our Baby Duck to learn to quack”.

That evening as all the baby ducks gathered round Mama to hear their bedtime story before bed, Mama Duck said, “now who wants to hear a story?’.

4 baby ducks said Quack, but one baby duck said “Good Morning Teacher Duck.” Mama looked at Papa Duck. “That didn’t work.  We need a miracle.  Tomorrow, take Baby Duck to Lake Church and ask Pastor Duck to pray over him”.

So Papa Duck took Baby Duck to Lake Church to ask Pastor Duck to pray over him.

Pastor Duck made the sign of the cross and said “Bless you, my child” and said some prayers over Baby Duck.

You can guess what happened.

That evening as all the baby ducks gathered round Mama to hear their bedtime story before bed, Mama Duck said, “now who wants to hear a story?”.

4 baby ducks said Quack, but one baby duck said “Bless You, My Child”.

Mama Duck had an idea. She turned to Papa Duck and said, “Tomorrow, take Baby Duck to Lake Circus and ask one of the bird trainers to train Baby Duck to quack.”

So Papa Duck took Baby Duck to Lake Circus to ask Trainer Duck to train Baby Duck to quack.

Baby Duck watched the circus performers, animals and humans practicing for the Big Show.

The man in charge of the trapeze artists blew his whistle for them to start.

Baby Duck saw a young trapeze artist make the sign of the cross.

 “Bless you my child” said Baby Duck.

A clown with a white face thought that was very funny and laughed.

Baby Duck got scared of the clown with the white face and ran away from Papa Duck shrieking “Bless You, My Child. Bless You, My Child”.

Papa Duck decided to take Baby Duck home.

That evening as all the baby ducks gathered round Mama to hear their bedtime story before bed, Mama Duck said, “now who wants to hear a story?”.

4 baby ducks said Quack, but one baby duck said nothing.  It was scared to say “Bless You My Child” in case the clown with the white face appeared.

The next day Baby Duck was alone with one of his baby sisters exploring. Sister suddenly got her webbed foot stuck in a pot.  “Quack” said Sister Duck, afraid.

Baby Duck looked at Sister.

Baby Duck looked towards the lake where Mama Duck was paddling with his other 3 sisters.

Baby Duck ran towards Mama.

 “Ah, Moo, Good Morning Teacher Duck.  Bless You My Child”, he shrieked at Mama Duck.

 “Whatever is the matter?” wondered Mama.  “Something Must Be Wrong.”

Baby Duck shrieked, “Ah, Moo, Good Morning Teacher Duck.  Bless You My Child” again and ran towards Sister, looking back at Mama to make sure Mama Duck was following him.

Mama Duck followed Baby Duck all the way to where Sister was with her foot stuck in a pot.

Following Mama Duck was a Cow, Doctor Duck, Pastor Duck, Teacher Duck and Police Duck who had all heard, “Ah, Moo, Good Morning Teacher Duck.  Bless You My Child”.

 “Bless his heart,” said Doctor Duck, seeing that Baby Duck had led Mama Duck to Sister Duck.

 “Bless his heart,” said Pastor Duck, seeing that Baby Duck had led Mama Duck to Sister Duck.

 “Bless his heart,” said Teacher Duck, seeing that Baby Duck had led Mama Duck to Sister Duck.

 “Bless his heart,” said Police Duck, seeing that Baby Duck had led Mama Duck to Sister Duck.

 “Bless his heart”, said Baby Duck, proud and happy.

And you know what – Police Duck gave Baby Duck a job on the Police Force on the Rescue Squad.

It never worried Mama Duck and Papa Duck again when Baby Duck said, “Ah, Moo, Good Morning Teacher Duck. Bless You My Child”.