Little Duck: (Australia)

Little Duck lived in a pond with her family and lots of other young ducks. They were constantly warned, “Never, ever leave our pond. Downstream lives a monster just waiting to eat you . . .  or worse.”

“What does a monster look like?” asked Little Duck. No one knew for certain but they all had ideas. None of their answers satisfied Little Duck. One day, when no one was looking, she swam downstream. All she wanted was to have a bit of a look, but the monster caught her and would not let her go.

“You will be my wife,” he told her. Little Duck refused and tried to escape, but the monster watched her closely. She could not find a way to go back to her home. Even though she became pregnant, he continued to keep watch.

One night, when the monster could no longer stay awake, Little Duck escaped and swam back to the pond. Everyone was overjoyed to see her, welcoming her home. Once again Little Duck swam and splashed, delighted to be living among friends and family.

But when she gave birth, her children did not look like the other duck children. They did not look like their mother. The other ducks were afraid of Little Duck’s children and told her, “Take your children and leave.” Little Duck tried to convince the ducks her babies could do no harm but they would not listen. “Babies grow up. They are children of the monster. They will hurt us when they can.”

Little Duck gathered her babies and left the pond, swimming upstream until she came to a big lake. Here her children grew and flourished. In time they mated and had children of their own. Their children looked like their parents. None looked like Little Duck. Her children were ashamed of her. “You must leave our lake. You do not look like us.”

Little Duck took one last look at her children and grandchildren. With an aching heart she swam away, into unknown waters, toward a new life.


*Also titled: How Platypuses Came to Australia

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