The Ugly Duckling

THE UGLY DUCKLING

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Instructions

Once upon a time, in a cozy nest near a clear, sparkling pond, a mother duck was patiently sitting on her nest, waiting for her five eggs to hatch. She was very excited and kept quacking softly to herself, dreaming about her adorable ducklings.One warm summer day, the first egg began to crack. Out popped a cute, fluffy yellow duckling. "Quack, quack!" said the mother duck, greeting her new baby. Soon, the other three eggs began to crack as well. Out came three more adorable, fluffy, yellow ducklings. They were perfect, just as the mother duck had imagined. But the fifth egg was different. It was larger and took longer to hatch. The mother duck waited and waited. Finally, the big egg began to crack open. Out came a big, gray duckling. He was not like the others at all. He was bigger, and his feathers were gray and scruffy instead of yellow and fluffy. The mother duck was surprised, but she loved him just the same.

sparkling

something that emits flashes of light or brilliance

crack

sudden sharp sound or a break or fracture in something solid

scruffy

something or someone that is untidy or in poor condition, typically in appearance.

As the days passed, the other ducklings began to notice how different their gray brother looked. They waddled around, playing and quacking, but they would often leave the gray duckling out of their games. "Why is he so big and gray?" they would whisper to each other. One day, Mother Duck decided it was time to take her ducklings to the pond for their first swim. She proudly led them to the water, and they all jumped in. The yellow ducklings swam gracefully, but the gray duckling struggled to keep up. His big feet made him clumsy, and he felt very self-conscious. The other animals at the pond noticed him right away. "Look at that ugly duckling!" they quacked and squealed. "He doesn’t look like a proper duck at all!" The poor gray duckling felt his heart sink. He tried his best to swim and play like the others, but everywhere he went, he heard the same cruel words: "Ugly! Ugly! Ugly!" The farm animals, even his siblings, teased him mercilessly.

whisper

to speak very softly and quietly, often to avoid being overheard

clumsy

someone who lacks coordination in their movements, often resulting in unintentional mistakes

teased

to make fun of someone playfully or mockingly

As time went on, the teasing only got worse. The gray duckling felt more and more lonely. One day, he decided he couldn't take it anymore. He made a big decision: he would leave the farm and find a place where he could belong. The gray duckling wandered through the woods and across fields. He met other birds and animals along the way, but no one wanted to be his friend. Everyone kept saying he was too ugly. He felt very sad and lost, but he kept walking, hoping to find a place where he would be accepted. One day, he came across a small, cozy cottage with a kind old woman living inside. The woman saw the gray duckling and felt sorry for him. "Come in, little one," she said. "You can stay here with me." The gray duckling was very grateful. He stayed with the old woman, her cat, and her hen. But even they didn't treat him kindly. The cat and the hen would tease him and say, "Why are you so ugly? You don't belong here."

lonely

feeling sad or unhappy because you are alone or have no friends

cottage

small, typically cozy and often picturesque house, usually located in a rural or semi-rural area

grateful

feeling or showing thanks or appreciation for something received or done

Feeling sad again, the gray duckling decided to leave the cottage. He wandered further and further, feeling more alone than ever. He came to a big, beautiful lake and saw a group of elegant white birds swimming gracefully. They were swans, and they were the most beautiful birds he had ever seen. The gray duckling admired them from a distance, wishing he could be like them. As the days grew colder, winter arrived. The gray duckling had to find a place to stay warm. He found a cozy spot under some bushes by the lake and hid there, shivering from the cold. The winter was harsh, and the gray duckling struggled to survive. He felt so lonely and wished for the warm days of summer to return.Finally, after a long and difficult winter, spring arrived. The snow melted, the flowers bloomed, and the sun shone brightly again. The gray duckling felt the warmth of the sun and decided to stretch his wings. He waddled to the lake and saw those beautiful swans again. He admired their beauty and grace.

shivering

shaking involuntarily, usually because of being cold, frightened, or experiencing strong emotions

struggled

to have tried hard to do something despite difficulties or challenges

melted

changed from a solid to a liquid state due to heat

Feeling a little braver, he decided to go closer to the water. As he approached the lake, he saw his reflection for the first time in a long while. To his surprise, he wasn't a gray duckling anymore. He had grown into a beautiful white swan! He couldn't believe his eyes. He stretched his long neck and looked at his elegant wings. He was just as beautiful as the swans he admired. The other swans saw him and swam up to greet him. "Welcome," they said. "You are one of us now." The once-ugly duckling was so happy. He finally found a place where he belonged. He wasn't ugly at all. He was a beautiful swan, and everyone welcomed him with open wings. The swan lived happily ever after, surrounded by friends who loved him just the way he was. And he never felt lonely or sad again.

braver

having or showing courage or bravery, especially when facing difficult or frightening situations

stretched

to extend or pull something to make it longer or wider

elegant

having refined or tasteful beauty, style, or grace in appearance, behavior, or design