Noah and the Ugly Duckling
Written and Dramatized by Noah Goodnight
Narrated by Mommy because Noah can't speak clearly or even write yet...
Author's note: Noah has been fascinated with ducks since he could talk. His first word was "duck". He loves books with ducks and his stuffed duck "Uck Uck" is always with him at bedtime.
"Ucks, ucks!" Noah pointed excitedly to his mommy.
"Ucks, ucks!" Noah pointed excitedly to his mommy. (Side note: They were enjoying a picnic at a local park in Woodward, Oklahoma with Papa J and Great Papa after tending to Great Mima's headstone. See it was suppose to be Great Mima's 75th birthday on Labor Day, but she passed away only a month ago which made Mommy very, very sad. So we took Great Papa out to the cemetery to tend to Great Mima's heavenly bed.)
There were hundreds of them all waddling toward Noah. He squealed with delight still shrieking "ucks, ucks". But something changed in Noah's little face. The excitement vanished to almost sheer terror as he fled to hide behind his mommy's legs. Didn't you see the enormous black monster? (Side note - okay, so it's not a monster. It's just an abnormally large black Mallard duck. Weird, I know.)
Noah unleashes from his mommy's legs only to run for cover behind a nearby tree, seeming to say "Nanny, nanny, boo boo. You can't catch me!" But Papa J has something else planned! He starts throwing bread crumbs toward the tree inching the black duck closer and closer.
The big black duck is getting closer by the bread crumb. Noah squeals for Papa J to stop and for his mommy to save him, but she's giggling and snapping pictures! So the enormous black duck, aka The Ugly Duckling, keeps getting closer. Noah really isn't sure about his love for ducks anymore.
Noah inches backwards pulling his arms into his chest for safety. He will not let The Ugly Duckling nibble at his fingers.
Noah dashes back for safety tangled in his mommy's legs, but The Ugly Duckling is persistent. Instead of giving in to fear, Noah decides to have a face off with the black duck once and for all!
The Ugly Duckling rears its ugly head almost standing eye to eye with his 18-month-old enemy, but this little tot has heart. He slaps his hands on his knees and squeals, "uckieeee!!!!!!" The duck waddles backward fearing this great noisemaker.
With a bread crumb in hand, Noah thinks it's a game. No longer is he intimidated by The Ugly Duckling or by the fact there are now TWO Ugly Ducklings. He simply has fallen back in love with ducks.
Papa J quickly helps Noah stock up with bread crumbs. Noah counts, "un, to, ree" and throws . He squeals as he watches the ducks race to be the first one at the treats. And again he goes throwing till he's run out of bread.
In all, it was a great adventure conquering The Ugly Duckling.
There were hundreds of them all waddling toward Noah. He squealed with delight still shrieking "ucks, ucks". But something changed in Noah's little face. The excitement vanished to almost sheer terror as he fled to hide behind his mommy's legs. Didn't you see the enormous black monster? (Side note - okay, so it's not a monster. It's just an abnormally large black Mallard duck. Weird, I know.)
Noah unleashes from his mommy's legs only to run for cover behind a nearby tree, seeming to say "Nanny, nanny, boo boo. You can't catch me!" But Papa J has something else planned! He starts throwing bread crumbs toward the tree inching the black duck closer and closer.
The big black duck is getting closer by the bread crumb. Noah squeals for Papa J to stop and for his mommy to save him, but she's giggling and snapping pictures! So the enormous black duck, aka The Ugly Duckling, keeps getting closer. Noah really isn't sure about his love for ducks anymore.
Noah inches backwards pulling his arms into his chest for safety. He will not let The Ugly Duckling nibble at his fingers.
Noah dashes back for safety tangled in his mommy's legs, but The Ugly Duckling is persistent. Instead of giving in to fear, Noah decides to have a face off with the black duck once and for all!
The Ugly Duckling rears its ugly head almost standing eye to eye with his 18-month-old enemy, but this little tot has heart. He slaps his hands on his knees and squeals, "uckieeee!!!!!!" The duck waddles backward fearing this great noisemaker.
With a bread crumb in hand, Noah thinks it's a game. No longer is he intimidated by The Ugly Duckling or by the fact there are now TWO Ugly Ducklings. He simply has fallen back in love with ducks.
Papa J quickly helps Noah stock up with bread crumbs. Noah counts, "un, to, ree" and throws . He squeals as he watches the ducks race to be the first one at the treats. And again he goes throwing till he's run out of bread.
In all, it was a great adventure conquering The Ugly Duckling.Moral of the story: Nothing's really as scary as it seems at first.
For once, this is one thing Noah likes to do like his mommy. Swing. Daddy can barely sit on a swing before he feels all dizzy and light headed. Noah could do this for hours.
Today was a good day to remember our Mima. We celebrated her birthday without her, but this day will be a day Great Papa, or any of us, ever forgets - Ugly Ducklings and all.
For once, this is one thing Noah likes to do like his mommy. Swing. Daddy can barely sit on a swing before he feels all dizzy and light headed. Noah could do this for hours.
Today was a good day to remember our Mima. We celebrated her birthday without her, but this day will be a day Great Papa, or any of us, ever forgets - Ugly Ducklings and all. 
