[sc090505]

After a while, they came to the edge of a beautiful pond.

"All right, little ones," the mother duck smiled. "Time for a swim. Everybody in."

"Oh, boy!" they quacked.

"Oh, no!" the chick peeped. "Psst," she whispered, pulling one of the others aside. "Is she pulling my leg? What's she trying to pull? We can't swim."

"Sure we can," the little duck quacked. "It's easy once you get your feet wet. Watch!" And he jumped into the water with his brothers. "You can do it!" they cheered. "We're all pulling for you!"

"Please don't push me," cried the chick. "I can't pull this off. I can't swim. I don't...a-aahh-choo...know how."
"You can't pull out now," the little ducks quacked. "Jump in!"

But the chick stayed on the bank. "I can't!" she screamed wildly.

"Pull yourself together," the others cried. "What's wrong? Are you a chicken?"

"Why, yes!" cried the chick. "And ... I want my mother!" Suddenly from out of nowhere the mother hen appeared. "There you are, little chick! I found you," she clucked. "I was so worried."

"Mother!" she cried. "I'm so happy you're here, but..." she sobbed. "I'm sorry I made you worry. You can scold me. I deserve it."

But instead the mother hen took the chick under her wing. The little pullet felt warm and safe there.

"Now I know why mother worries," she sighed. "She...a-a-ah-choo...loves me."