Little Duck Who Saved the Rain

On the edge of a quiet forest, where tall willow trees leaned over a sparkling pond, lived a little yellow duck named Dodo.

Every morning, long before the other animals woke up, Dodo carried a tiny woven basket filled with empty glass jars.

She walked softly through the wet grass, stopping beside flowers and leaves that still held the night's raindrops.

One by one, she gently tipped each leaf.

Plink.

A crystal-clear raindrop slipped into a jar.

Another leaf.

Plink.

Another tiny drop.

When the basket was full, Dodo smiled happily and carried the jars home.

The other animals watched her every day.

Rabbit laughed.

"Dodo, why do you collect raindrops? The whole pond is full of water!"

Squirrel giggled.

"You should collect acorns instead. Acorns are much more useful."

Even Frog poked his head above the water.

"Come swim with us! Rain will always come back."

Dodo only smiled.

"Maybe," she said softly.

"But someone might need these one day."

The others didn't understand.

Still, every rainy morning, Dodo collected more raindrops.

She lined the little jars neatly on wooden shelves inside her cozy home.

Some jars held bright summer rain.

Some held gentle spring showers.

One tiny jar contained only three sparkling drops from the softest morning mist.

Soon the seasons changed.

The warm days grew hotter.

The clouds disappeared.

The wind became dry.

Day after day, the sun shone without resting.

Slowly, Willow Pond became smaller.

The muddy banks cracked.