Lillian,
the
Ugly Duckling
By
Viola Folsom
Lillian,
the
Ugly Duckling
By
Viola Folsom
Once upon a time, there was a place where the sun shined as brightly as gold and the grass glistened with early morning dew as the rays of the golden sun beat down upon it. Gentle red breasted robins and sweet glowing blue jays whistled beautiful melodies around the sunlit farm.
Slowly, as the sun rose higher into the sky, the many farm animals awoke. Lambs ‘bah’ed dogs barked, horses whinnied, chickens clucked, pigs oinked, cats meowed, cows mooed, and ducks began to quack. The fam was awakening.
Everything seemed quite usual at Anna’s farm, but down by the barn, in a small nest, eggs began to hatch.
A handsome, emerald green headed mallard drake with caring, ocean blue eyes that could trap anyone in their warm depths and silky looking brownish tan feathers that glistened in the bright light, was sitting beside his new wife as they watched the 3 beautiful, pearl white eggs begin to hatch.
The lightning like cracks began to make their way over the golf ball sized eggs. Two tiny, orangish tan beaks began to crack through the thick white surface, soon breaking the eggshells apart and revealing 2 butter yellow, orange legged, webbed footed ducklings. The two new ducklings had soft, fluffy, velvety feathers.
They looked up at their step-father, Jake, and their mother, Carroll. Carroll was a beautiful mallard hen with tan and black specked feathers and a graceful head that would have any guy fall for her. She was beautiful all over, all except her eyes. They were hard and cold as steel. Her eyes held no love. They were steel gray with hatred that filled them. Jake obviously took no notice of this.
“Carroll, look at how beautiful your ducklings are!” Jake told the hard eyed Carroll.
Carroll’s eyes wondered back over to her new ducklings. They were walking around and exploring the life around the nest. Something seemed to light up in her eyes. They became full of care and love.
Carroll had been staring at the last egg. It hadn’t hatched. It was bigger than the others. It was about the size of baseball. “Yes, my little babies are adorable, aren’t they Jake?” Carroll wondered fondly.
“Yeah their real beauties.” Jake answered, but his eyes kept wondering back to the last pearl white egg in the nest.
Carroll saw this. “Don’t worry about that egg. It has to be a dud. It’s too big to be normal, it would have to be deformed to be that size, Jake.” Carroll assured Jake venomously.
Jake wasn’t assured at all at this. If Carroll thinks that it’s a dud, it surly wont survive if she doesn’t keep it warm and it would look suspicious if I laid on it. Jake thought worriedly. “Carroll, I um. Well maybe. How about.” Jake rambled on. He was trying to figure out how to keep it safe and warm until it hatched. Finally, Jake spit it out. “Maybe you could just lay on it for a while longer. It might just be late developing.” Jake wanted to keep the last of his old wife with him, though he had asked politely for Carroll to lay on it for him until it hatched because his wife had died shortly after the egg had been laid.
Carroll seemed to think this over a bit. She did take it under her wing for him since in reality, drakes weren’t supposed to lay on eggs. “Ok Jake, but only for a few more eggs. You told me that this egg was laid just around the time that mine were and if it doesn’t hatch in the next week or so, I wont lay on it anymore.” Carroll said sternly.
Relief filled Jake’s eyes. “Thank you Carroll, I can’t even start to thank you enough.” Jake replied. Relief filled his voice. I can keep the last part of my wife with me! She wont have died in vain. Jake thought joyously.
Carroll looked back over to the egg as though it were poisoned. She despised the egg. She only stayed with Jake because he was a rich and absolutely stupid.
Carroll slowly went back over to the last, pearl white egg and sat on it. Her little ducklings came over to her and stared at her funny. “Mama, why aren’t we exploring?” it was the little duckling on the right. She had a little red tint to her feathers. Her voice held a sort of strong and commanding tone.
“Not now Alison, maybe tomorrow. Right now all I want you to do is explore around the nest and don’t get out of my site.” Carroll demanded.
“Ok, mother.” Silva, the other duckling. She had the same tome of voice as her sister, but it had a selfish tone as well. She had a blackish tint to her feathers.
Carroll looked proud of her two daughters. They were beautiful and had her same personality. “Ok, go wonder around now.” Carroll said rather calmly. There was just something about her when she spoke to her daughters that there wasn’t when she talked other times.
Many of the farm animals had heard the news of the new ducklings and they came to see. There were comments like, “oh, how cute” and “how adorable!” there were also the questioning comments like, “ what’s wrong with that other egg?” and “ why hasn’t that egg hatched?”
Soon, it all got really quiet. The farm animals wondered away and Jake, Carroll, and the ducklings were left alone. The two little ducklings went under their mothers outstretched wing and cuddled up asleep next to the last egg. “Goodnight mama.” the two ducklings said in union.
“Goodnight sweeties.” Carroll replied.
Jake didn’t say goodnight to anyone. He just sat on the ground next to the nest and gently tucked his neck under his silky wing, falling asleep.
The next morning was just as bright as yesterday as the sun beat down on Jake. He awoke silently and stared over at Carroll. She was asleep but something was ruffling her feathers. He looked over to one of her beautiful, silky brown wings and right below it was the two sleeping ducklings. That mst mean that the egg is hatching! Jake thought excitedly. But wait, Carroll doesn’t know. The duckling will suffocate if she doesn’t move. Jake thought frantically. He had to think of something quick. Suddenly, something came to him as if a light bulb had lit up in his head. He swiftly moved over to the opposite wing that the ducklings were under and slowly stretched it out so that he could reach down and get the egg out. Once her wing was stretched out, Jake slowly reached under her and took the egg in his wing. He could feel the little cracks on the egg getting longer. He quickly took it out from under Carroll and set it on the ground.
The cracks on the egg were getting longer and more pronounced. A tiny black beak was poking through the top of the egg, chipping away the egg. Abruptly, the egg broke and appeared a grey duckling. It had soft, velvety feathers like the other duckling, but it’s was a cool grey. Happiness showed in Jake’s eyes. He was a father. He gently nudged the cool grey duckling to stand. It was trying to open it’s eyes. Once it did, it blinked hard and what appeared were starling blue eyes, just like his own.
The duckling looked over to him and questioned, “papa?”
Silent tears filled Jake’s blue eyes. He thought that the egg might not make it because of his wife Clary dying, but he was wrong. This little duckling looked as good as any.
It was still a little early in the morning for going around and exploring so Jake went over to where he slept and beckoned the new little duckling over. She looked at him questioningly at first, but then wobbled over to him on her little grey legs. Jake outstretched his right wing and let the little duckling crawl under it. It wasn’t actually a nest, but it would suffice until Jake built one for the little duckling to sleep in.
The duckling snuggled in and fell fast asleep with it’s head snuggled right in the crook of Jake’s wing. Jake looked down at the duckling as he covered it up with his wing and gently tucked his emerald green head under his other wing. Slowly, Jake fell into a deep sleep.
Suddenly there was a loud quack that sounded around and Jake woke with a start. The duckling under his wing on the other hand, just stayed fast asleep. “Carroll, what’s wrong?” Jake questioned urgently.
“Your egg! It’s gone!” she quacked. Her voice was filled with mock concern. It really held relief.
Jake laughed under his breath. Carroll heard this and looked over to him quickly. “What are you laughing about?” Carroll spat out sternly.
Jake just laughed more as he extended his wing. Carroll gasped in horror. Right under her wing was the mos hideous duckling she had ever seen. “What-what is that?” she questioned.
Jake seemed a little taken aback at this, but he avoided it. “This,” he nudged the duckling a bit and it awoke. “Is my daughter, or the egg that you have been sitting on.”Jake said fondly as he watched the little duckling stare up at Carroll in surprise.
Alison and Silvia were looking at the new duckling in disgust. “Mother, what is she?” Silvia questioned.
Carroll didn’t answer. She just kept staring at the new duckling as though she were an alien. “What have you decided to name her?” Carroll asked a little hesitantly.
Jake thought about this a little bit and answered. “ I think that I’ll name her Lillian.”
Something of disgust passed over Carroll’s face, but instead of saying anything, she just turned to Alison and Silvia. “Come on girls, it’s time to learn how to swim and explore.” Carroll commanded as she led the way towards the pond.
Lillian began to follow, but Jake halted her. “Lillian.” Jake called as she was just inched from following. She stopped and stared at Jake. “Lillian, come on and stay here. I’ll take you out swimming tomorrow ok?” Jake told Lillian.
Lillian looked over to Carroll’s retreating back and hen back at Jake. She seemed to be having a little debate in her mind. “Ok papa.” she said calmly as she waddled back over to him.
“Ok Lillian, just wait here and I’m going to get things together to make a nest for yourself ok?” Jake informed Lillian.
“Ok papa.” Lillian answered back as Jake turned to gather loose feathers from the ground and some strands of loose hay. Lillian went over to Carroll’s nest and laid down, watching her father work to make a nest.
Jake went around gathering up materials for about 5 hours when he finally finished. Lillian had fallen fast asleep and only awoke when Jake’s gentle prodding awoke her. She shook her head and looked over to where Jake and her had slept earlier that day. Her eyes widened considerably. “Lillian, this is going to be our new bed. I made sure to make it big enough for the two of us and when you row up.” Jake said happily. There was lots of care in his voice as he said this.
“Wow papa, that’s wonderful.” Lillian awed at the nest. It was huge and smooth. It was the size of three ducks.
“I thought that you would like it, now come on over and try it out. I tried to make it as best as I could. I wasn’t always good at making nests, that is what your mother always did.” it became quiet for about 5 minutes after this and then he looked back towards me. I was afraid weather to go over or not. “Come on Lillian, try it out.” Jake’s voice was back to normal so Lillian waddled over as fast as her little grey legs could carry her.
She stepped into the new nest and instantly loved it. It felt like a velvety pillow. “Oh papa I love it.” Lillian cheered as she nuzzled into the base of the nest. Jake looked over at her lovingly and stepped into the nest with Lillian as she had just laid down to go to sleep.
Jake laid over to one side and beckoned Lillian over. She obediently followed and nuzzled up to Jake and fell asleep as quick as a snap of a finger.
“Goodnight Lillian.” Jake soothed Lillian as she fell into a deep sleep. Soon after, Jake fell asleep also and didn’t hear the raging voices of Carroll and her ducklings as they went to sleep in their smaller nest.
The night went by undisturbed and by morning, everyone was well rested. Once again, Jake and Lillian were awake first. “Come on Lillian, lets start that swimming lesson I promised you.” Jake told Lillian as he nudged her out of the nest.
“Yay, thanks dad!” Lillian cheered as she ran over to the pond and jumped in. She immediately sunk.
“Lillian!” Jake called worriedly as he waddled over to the pond and stuck his head underwater to try and see her, but she was fine. Actually she was swimming along after a frog that was frightened like crazy of her.
Jake just laughed and raised his head back out of the water just as Lillian was rising out of the pond too. “That was fun papa!” Lillian called over to him as he shook his head free of water. Lillian was swimming around as if she had been swimming for years.
They were undisturbed for hours as Jake went over a few time to help her swim a little faster or in a tight turn. Soon, Lilian got tired and the had to start back to the nest. On their way hey passed by some ducks that were swimming in the last bit of the sunlight.
“Hey Jake! What’s that ugly thing?” a drake named Danny called over.
Lillian started to cry as more mean comments came her way. She caught words like ‘ugly’ and ‘foul creature’.
“Shut up you idiots.” Jake shouted at the drakes and hens that were making fun of Lillian. “Oh come on Jake, we just want to have a little fun, I mean, what is that and why is it with you?” asked a hen by the name of Lana.
Jake just walked faster, trying to make sure that Lillian kept up with his pace, but she wasn’t old enough yet and she fell behind. A duck that was hiding came out and bit Lillian on the neck. Lillian screamed, but the mean duck just kept biting her harder and harder. There were little wet spots all over her where the duck had bitten her.
Jake had come over as quick as he could and bit the duck as hard as he could deep in the neck. The duck took a threatening bite at Jake, but nonetheless, stepped back. Jake scooped Lillian up and gently set her on his back. He could fell Lillian shaking with fright. “It’s alright Lillian, we’re almost home.” Jake soothed, but it was of no comfort to her.
On the way back to the nest, farm animals push and shoved to get a look at Lillian. More nasty comments came and Lillian got even worse. She was shaking violently by the time they had got back to the nest.
Lillian’s eyes were shut tight and her wings were tight at her sides. “Lillian, we’re home.” Jake said soothingly.
Lillian opened her eyes slowly and stared up at her father. He looked pale. “Papa, why-why does everyone want to be mean to me?” Lillian asked quietly. Jake could see the tears fall down her already tear stained face as she asked this.
“Well, Lillian. They don’t like you because your different and people around here don’t take well to change. They’d prefer if everyone was the same.” Jake explained.
Lillian just seemed to get unhappier, but she snuggled up to Jake once more while he stretched out his wing once again to allow Lillian to get comfortable and he gently folded it back over her.
Lillian let the salty tears run down her already tear stained face.
Jake peered around at the setting sun and slowly tucked his emerald green head beneath the wing that covered Lillian so that she felt safe.
“I love you papa.” Lillian whispered softly.
“I love you too Lillian.” Jake replied as he slowly closed his tired blue eyes and fell asleep.
The next morning, there was loud terrified shouting as Lillian awoke. Lillian peered over beside her to find her father still there, but something was terribly wrong. Her father was extremely cold and was only just breathing. “Papa?” Lillian questioned as she gently pushed against his side. There wasn’t any reply.
Carroll seemed to have just noticed Lillian. “Lillian, get away from him now.” she scolded.
Lillian looked up at Carroll as though she were a mad. “Get away from him? Who do you think you are? He’s my father . I can stay her all I want.” Lillian shouted at Carroll.
“Now Lillian, get away from your father. He is extremely ill and you need to stay away so that you don’t get ill.”Carroll snapped.
Lillian looked a little taken aback. A scowl grew on her face, but nonetheless, she obeyed. Lillian nudged her father once more to try and get him to wake, but he didn’t budged. Jake just laid there, only breathing slightly with his emerald green head tucked loosely under his wing.
Lillian was just getting over the edge of the nest when she heard an older duck start to speak. “What is that child? She can’t be his can she?” this was an older duck named Nifin. She was the oldest duck on this farm and she was really wise.
