Character is Power

Character is Power

Meredith was a sad duck. The other ducks in the pond ignored her. The villagers shunned her. Whenever old Ebenezer came down to feed the ducks, Meredith was always at the back of the queue

Meredith longed to be accepted.

When Ebenezer arrived the next day, Meredith waddled onto the lawn surrounding the pond to attract attention. She began to dance to her favourite song, Nightbush City Limits by Tina Turner. She danced lightly, following the correct steps, and sang, ‘No Whiskey for Sale, da da da da dum dum’.  But nobody noticed. Ebenezer thought she was itchy.

She then embarked on delivering a Churchillian oratory. ‘Quack, quack. We will fight them on the pond, in the reeds and underwater.’ But nobody noticed.

Not finished yet, she went speed walking around the pond, wings flapping, feet paddling over the water. Around and around she went. The ducks ignored her. Ebenezer thought she was frightened.

Meredith was unhappy and rejected.  She sat on the log in the middle of the pond, her head down.

Meredith was paddling through the reeds the next day when she heard shrieks from Diedre Duck. An ugly hound was attacking poor Diedre.  It gripped hold of her wing and shook her. Diedre fluttered and squawked in pain. The ducks scrambled away, scared. Meredith, in the pond, saw the great danger. Instinctively and without thinking, she flew up the lawn at the dog and pecked it. The dog kept its grip. Meredith pecked it again. The dog let go of Diedre and snarled at Meredith. Its eyes blazing, its bared teeth dripping with saliva, it lowered its haunches, ready to attack. This did not deter Meredith. She flew again at the hound and pecked it sharply on the sensitive end of the nose. The dog looked shocked; it whimpered, then turned and fled away. Meredith then stroked Diedre’s wing and soothed her with reassuring words. The other ducks, watching with open beaks, were in awe of Meredith. She protected them and took care of them. Meredith was a hero, the new leader.

The next day, Meredith organised the ducks in a row in a straight line across the lawn in front of Ebenezer. They danced to Nightbush City Limits, stepping rhythmically in time to the beat, their wings unfolding and beaks held high. The villagers, amazed and delighted, came out to see this unexpected spectacle.

Then Meredith induced all the ducks to give Churchillian speeches. They produced an extraordinary ‘quackofony’ which echoed throughout the village. Ebenezer and the villagers were entranced.

Then, Meredith organised the ducks to do speed walking in formation around and around the pond, their wings out, and their feet splashing over the water. The ducks had a terrific time. The villagers clapped at the tremendous show.

The next day, Ebenezer and all the villagers brought snacks to throw for the ducks. The ducks ensured Meredith was at the front, getting the choicest pieces.

As Meredith chewed on a chunk of tasty croissant, she smiled and thought, ‘Yes, character is power.’