The mother duck watched the other ducks swimming in the cool river, and having fun sliding down the muddy river bank into the water...

" Just once I would love to join the fun," she thought.... So she stepped from her nest and made her way to her snug and safe spot on the river bank.

But from overhead an ugly bird swooped down from the sky and landed on her nest.

The mother duck joined the flock and chased the evil ugly bird away.

But just as the mother duck began to cry, the final egg broke open. A young bird crept out. But it was colored unlike the others.

It was by far the very ugliest duckling of all.

What a strange looking duckling she came to be. On occasion, when a duck was feeling miserable about itself, it would become spiteful and peck at the very ugliest duckling.

The mother duck loved all of her babies, including the very ugliest duckling, but as time passed, and the other ducklings grew more beautiful, and swam more swiftly, she couldn't help but worry about the fate and future of the very ugliest duckling.

One day, the mother duck decided to seek out the old wise goose she had heard of that lived in a swamp nearby.

She hoped the old wise goose would know what should be done about the very ugliest duckling.

At the same time the very ugliest duckling wandered alone, while the other ducklings played with their friends in the river.

She felt very alone, and sad inside because they didn't want to play with her.

But all of a sudden, she heard squawking that she had never heard before. Flustered, she hid behind a tree as a strange looking flock passed her.