The Cat And The Duck

The sun was bright, and the cool pond was perfect for a midday swim. A little brown duck glided across the water, splashing happily and watching the fluffy white clouds drift by in the blue sky.

But peace never lasted long at the edge of the pond.

From behind the tall green grass and bright purple flowers, a pair of sharp, curious eyes watched the water. It was the striped cat, sneaking closer with quiet, slow steps. He always showed up just when the duck found the perfect rhythm to his swim, ready to make life difficult with a sudden pounce or a loud meow to startle his feathered neighbor.

The cat crept to the very edge of the mud, twitching his tail, certain he had the element of surprise.

But the duck was clever. Out of the corner of his wide eyes, he caught a glimpse of those familiar stripes shaking near the blossoms. Instead of panicking or rushing to the shore, the duck flapped his dark wings out wide, splashing a massive wave of cool pond water straight toward the tall grass!

Splshhh!

The sudden wave caught the cat completely off guard, drenching his neat stripes and sending him scrambling backward into the dirt, shaking his wet paws in dismay. With a frustrated huff, the damp cat turned and trotted back toward the garden, realizing today was not the day for mischief.

The clever duck settled back into the gentle ripples of the water, free to enjoy the rest of the sunny afternoon in perfect peace.