Helen O'Reilly
07-11-2014, 12:07 AM
~ Felix, The Drake ~
In Mid spring, the lake was busy once again. Most of wild birds that migrated for winter had returned, busily building their nests for their eggs. The marshland at the north of the lake was an ideal home for ducks, geese, swans and other water fowls. The lake and marshes provided unending supply of food like aquatic plants, small fish, insects, frogs, worms and other such food sources while long grasses and straws hid their eggs from predators.
On the Southern part of the lake, a resort village was alive with tourists seeking an early holiday.
The shoreline had been developed over the years with tourism in mind, so a myriad of hotels, cottages and lodging houses were scattered around. A camping ground was also provided for the more adventurous backpackers.
And it was in one of the marshes, there lived a vain drake whose name was Felix. While the other ducks hunted for food, Felix would sit and look at his own reflection in the calm clear water, admiring it almost to the extent of worshipping, feeling pleased to see that he was the most beautiful duck in the marsh.
“I must have come from a royal family, “ He often said to himself. “It’s not suitable for a handsome drake like me to wet and dirty his beautiful feathers in the water”.
All of his friends and family never dared to go out too far from the marsh into the open lake, for they were afraid of the noisy activities of the people. Older ducks told them that humans were not their friends and they had to avoid any encounters with them as much as possible.
Felix thought that his friends and family were all idiots. He once went to the open lake and saw humans looking at him in adoration especially when he swam elegantly showing his beautiful sparkling feathers. Some of them threw some delicious food to him which he delightfully received. He told his friends about his discovery, yet none of them brave enough to go with him including Elena, his beautiful fiance.
Now, Felix lived an easy life. Whenever he felt hungry, he would go to the lake and would eat as much food as he wanted. All he had to do was showing off his beauty in front of the waiting crowd and then returned home safe and sound.
By and by, he made friends with some of the villagers. He could even take the food right from the palms of their hands and let them touch and pat his head down to his beautiful body. He then thought what a happy life he would have if he lived among humans. They were not as frightening as the elders described anyway. He dreamed of living in one of those sparkling buildings that he saw at night from a far, for the resort was bright and looked cozy compared to the cold damp marsh where he lived.
Then one day, he said good bye to his family and swam to the southern part of the lake. He didn’t wait long till a kind looking fisherman approached him and took him to his boat. He was very thrilled with anticipation of his new life; an easy contented life.
He was brought to a little cottage that was rather far from the lake. When they arrived, the man put him on a pond in front of his house and gave him lots of food. For the first few days he missed the lake, the marsh, his friends and family. The pond was so small that he became bored swimming on the same spot over and over but the free delicious food made him stay. So he spent most of his time lying, eating, sleeping and doing his most favorite thing, that is to admire his reflection in the water. It was the life he always wanted; eating, sleeping and playing.
As spring and summer passed, Felix became fatter and fatter as he became lazier and lazier. He never did any exercise like walking or flying or running or swimming or hunting anymore. He became a good pet and his master thought that he was tame and wouldn’t go away. So he never put him in a cage or chained him.
Autumn had arrived. One day he saw a flock of geese flying over the tall trees migrating to the South. Suddenly Felix remembered that it was time for him to leave too.
Felix loved this tradition. He loved the whole thing about migration; flying high in the sky, seeing different places, living in a warmer climate and doing other exciting things. Oh yes! He had to return to the marshland and find his family.
The next morning, he tried to fly but he could fly neither very high nor very far because he was too heavy. He became easily tired and his wings were weak because he hadn’t used them for months. He tried and tried without any success.
Because of the noise he made while trying to fly, his master came out of the house to see what was happening. When he saw that his duck was trying to run away, he became afraid of losing his precious pet. He knew that the duck’s wild instinct had called him to migrate. He had to keep him until the last flock left, so he put Felix in the barn.
For weeks he was confined in the barn. He couldn’t do anything except lying, sleeping and eating. He realized that he couldn’t escape. He began regretting what he did.
He missed his folk very much, especially his beautiful fiancée, Elena. He always postponed their mating because he wanted to enjoy his freedom as a bachelor as much as he could. He knew that having a family demanded a lot of responsibility including hard work. How he hated hard work! But now, would he live alone all his life? No beautiful Elena, no family, no children, no friends. How lonely!!! How sad!!! He wished next spring he could return to the marsh to start a new life. He would become the most responsible father in the world. He would build the most beautiful nest for Elena and his babies. He would work very hard to give them the healthiest food he could find in the marsh or in the lake. He would become a totally different drake. With this thought and dreams he felt a little better. He could hardly wait for the days when his dreams came true.
But one day his master took him out to his neighbor next door. He heard him say, “He will become the tastiest dinner we have ever had for years. Here he is! Take him to our house when you’re done.” With that final word, he left him there to his fate. Although he shouted and called him to the top of his voice, He saw his master go till he couldn’t see him anymore. He felt his heart breaking inside for the master ignored his calls for help. He loved his master very much. He always thought it was a mutual love.
The elders were right. He regretted being lazy and proud. He was bound to meet his doom because of these two weaknesses. Sadly! He had no time to repent.
The end.
PS: Instead the drake, I prefer to use a swan as the major character. but my husband says we don't eat swan.
https://www.google.co.id/search?q=duck+drake&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=oWa_U9OmG8aiugTBz4DICQ&sqi=2&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=596
In Mid spring, the lake was busy once again. Most of wild birds that migrated for winter had returned, busily building their nests for their eggs. The marshland at the north of the lake was an ideal home for ducks, geese, swans and other water fowls. The lake and marshes provided unending supply of food like aquatic plants, small fish, insects, frogs, worms and other such food sources while long grasses and straws hid their eggs from predators.
On the Southern part of the lake, a resort village was alive with tourists seeking an early holiday.
The shoreline had been developed over the years with tourism in mind, so a myriad of hotels, cottages and lodging houses were scattered around. A camping ground was also provided for the more adventurous backpackers.
And it was in one of the marshes, there lived a vain drake whose name was Felix. While the other ducks hunted for food, Felix would sit and look at his own reflection in the calm clear water, admiring it almost to the extent of worshipping, feeling pleased to see that he was the most beautiful duck in the marsh.
“I must have come from a royal family, “ He often said to himself. “It’s not suitable for a handsome drake like me to wet and dirty his beautiful feathers in the water”.
All of his friends and family never dared to go out too far from the marsh into the open lake, for they were afraid of the noisy activities of the people. Older ducks told them that humans were not their friends and they had to avoid any encounters with them as much as possible.
Felix thought that his friends and family were all idiots. He once went to the open lake and saw humans looking at him in adoration especially when he swam elegantly showing his beautiful sparkling feathers. Some of them threw some delicious food to him which he delightfully received. He told his friends about his discovery, yet none of them brave enough to go with him including Elena, his beautiful fiance.
Now, Felix lived an easy life. Whenever he felt hungry, he would go to the lake and would eat as much food as he wanted. All he had to do was showing off his beauty in front of the waiting crowd and then returned home safe and sound.
By and by, he made friends with some of the villagers. He could even take the food right from the palms of their hands and let them touch and pat his head down to his beautiful body. He then thought what a happy life he would have if he lived among humans. They were not as frightening as the elders described anyway. He dreamed of living in one of those sparkling buildings that he saw at night from a far, for the resort was bright and looked cozy compared to the cold damp marsh where he lived.
Then one day, he said good bye to his family and swam to the southern part of the lake. He didn’t wait long till a kind looking fisherman approached him and took him to his boat. He was very thrilled with anticipation of his new life; an easy contented life.
He was brought to a little cottage that was rather far from the lake. When they arrived, the man put him on a pond in front of his house and gave him lots of food. For the first few days he missed the lake, the marsh, his friends and family. The pond was so small that he became bored swimming on the same spot over and over but the free delicious food made him stay. So he spent most of his time lying, eating, sleeping and doing his most favorite thing, that is to admire his reflection in the water. It was the life he always wanted; eating, sleeping and playing.
As spring and summer passed, Felix became fatter and fatter as he became lazier and lazier. He never did any exercise like walking or flying or running or swimming or hunting anymore. He became a good pet and his master thought that he was tame and wouldn’t go away. So he never put him in a cage or chained him.
Autumn had arrived. One day he saw a flock of geese flying over the tall trees migrating to the South. Suddenly Felix remembered that it was time for him to leave too.
Felix loved this tradition. He loved the whole thing about migration; flying high in the sky, seeing different places, living in a warmer climate and doing other exciting things. Oh yes! He had to return to the marshland and find his family.
The next morning, he tried to fly but he could fly neither very high nor very far because he was too heavy. He became easily tired and his wings were weak because he hadn’t used them for months. He tried and tried without any success.
Because of the noise he made while trying to fly, his master came out of the house to see what was happening. When he saw that his duck was trying to run away, he became afraid of losing his precious pet. He knew that the duck’s wild instinct had called him to migrate. He had to keep him until the last flock left, so he put Felix in the barn.
For weeks he was confined in the barn. He couldn’t do anything except lying, sleeping and eating. He realized that he couldn’t escape. He began regretting what he did.
He missed his folk very much, especially his beautiful fiancée, Elena. He always postponed their mating because he wanted to enjoy his freedom as a bachelor as much as he could. He knew that having a family demanded a lot of responsibility including hard work. How he hated hard work! But now, would he live alone all his life? No beautiful Elena, no family, no children, no friends. How lonely!!! How sad!!! He wished next spring he could return to the marsh to start a new life. He would become the most responsible father in the world. He would build the most beautiful nest for Elena and his babies. He would work very hard to give them the healthiest food he could find in the marsh or in the lake. He would become a totally different drake. With this thought and dreams he felt a little better. He could hardly wait for the days when his dreams came true.
But one day his master took him out to his neighbor next door. He heard him say, “He will become the tastiest dinner we have ever had for years. Here he is! Take him to our house when you’re done.” With that final word, he left him there to his fate. Although he shouted and called him to the top of his voice, He saw his master go till he couldn’t see him anymore. He felt his heart breaking inside for the master ignored his calls for help. He loved his master very much. He always thought it was a mutual love.
The elders were right. He regretted being lazy and proud. He was bound to meet his doom because of these two weaknesses. Sadly! He had no time to repent.
The end.
PS: Instead the drake, I prefer to use a swan as the major character. but my husband says we don't eat swan.
https://www.google.co.id/search?q=duck+drake&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=oWa_U9OmG8aiugTBz4DICQ&sqi=2&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=596