From the time she was very young, Polly knew that there wasn’t going to be a duck she didn’t like.

Polly, Friend of the Ducks.

Most of the other kids in the neighborhood pretended to be Batman, or Superman, or even Hercules, when they played Super Hero Games.

But Polly insisted on being on “Friend of the Ducks.”  She wore a mask when they played.  But no cape.  Absolutely no capes.  The reasons were clear.

Childhood turned into years passed.

Later in life….  she always had an inkling, an itch, an intuition.  But she could never quite put her finger on it.  But Polly knew there was something more.  Something much bigger.  A purpose.

Then one day, by Culdufindit Lake, it all came rushing back to her.  She saw Alvin.  Sitting on the bank.

“Al?  That you?”
“It’s me Pol.  I’ve been waiting for you to come back.  I missed you.”
“I missed you too Al.  I couldn’t remember you.  I grew older and I forgot.  I’m sorry. Oh Alvin.  I’ve missed you so much.  I’m ready to wear my wings again.  Polly, Friend of the Ducks.  I remember it all now.  How I want to be the bird who can swim…and FLY.”
“That’s my girl.  And so you will.”

They sat quietly on the bank for the rest of that Thursday afternoon.  They shared a bag of cracked corn.  They didn’t care.  They had each other, and Polly had her wings back.

And her waddle too.

As it turns out…. Polly does, indeed…. want a quacker…. for all her life.

You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.  —  Swami Vivekananda

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.  —  e. e. cummings