Goslinga waddled to the pond's edge. A line of geese splashed past, flying away without a second glance.
Her shadow stretched long across the grass. The geese left only a glittering wake behind.
Something chirped from the reeds. A tiny yellow duckling was tangled in the cattails, calling for help.
The duckling pressed against her leg. Goslinga took a breath and marched toward the reeds.
Splish! Goslinga slipped in the mud and landed on her back. The duckling peeped with laughter.
They scrambled up and kept going. The duckling hopped onto Goslinga's head like a fuzzy yellow hat.
At the hollow log, a family of ducks waited. The mother duck puffed her feathers and clucked sharply.
Goslinga spread her wing. The duckling darted out and landed safely among his family. The mother duck nudged her foot gently.
The mother duck called her family close and tilted her head toward the open water. Goslinga stepped in.
A line of geese came from behind and glided to join them. One goose bumped Goslinga's wing and swam on.
They swam together in a long happy line. Ripples spread wide across the quiet pond.
Far ahead, the willow branches dipped low and whispered over the water. The line kept swimming on.