The Odd One. By Emily

THE ODD ONE  

Now, we all know the classic story of the Ugly Duckling but what if… we gave that story a little twist

Deep Dark clouds rolled over the country, ears splitting thunder bellowed in its wake. But there in the centre of it all perched on a hill was the nest of a fine swan with 5 glorious eggs balancing nimbly on top, well that was until… A deep long powerful gust of wind hit, pushing one single egg down the precipitous hill.

At the bottom of this treacherous hill was a nest belonging to a crocodile who was a three time Olympic champion swimmer. She had retired and settled down; she herself had 3 gigantic eggs and was just about to bury them in the soft ground next to the neighbouring lake suddenly the poor croc egg rolled right into the nest just as the first load of dirt tumbled down upon the delicate egg.

10 TEN YEARS LATER

‘Ha, Ha slimy little Gizzard Ha, Ha squabbling little fish!’ sneered a young  croc and his siblings followed the heartless tune ‘Ha , Ha …’ ‘PETER, METER, CETER AND TOMMY ,come inside for dinner you silly crocs’ bellowed Mrs croc ‘and err.. Ahem Tommy, um I need to talk to you… now please?’ Tommy, the poor little swan raised in a crocodile environment knew this talk was very important ‘Yes mum, anyway I wanna ask you something, Mum, why am I…am I different? Because I look nothing like you, I mean I’m not vicious or strong and I don’t have ferocious jaws but, but just look at me ma I’m not…’ ‘Calm down’ sighed the poor croc mother ‘the reason you’re different is…You’re not mine’ ‘WHAT!!!!!! WHOSE AM I THEN! Why didn’t you tell me, all the sickly slimy fish for dinner drove me mad but I put up with it ‘cause I wanted to fit in and now you tell me that! OMG, OMG!’ And with that he stormed furiously out of the room slamming the door behind him.

He sat outside leaning against a tree next to the lake watching the world go by; he really did wonder whose he was. Then one of his closest crocodile friends Ceter appeared ‘Mum told me everything so you don’t need to explain, Mum also told me your real mum’s arriving tomorrow to pick you up … Good luck’ Tommy gave a miserable sigh as Ceter scurried away, he had decided to run away. Nobody wanted him and his real mother must be horrid if she only realised he was gone after 10 years! So putting those facts together he firmly decided to leave, runaway and find someone who cared. So he got up and began a steady jog to freedom witch soon turned into a quick sprint.

1 HOUR LATER   

Plans had not turned out how he wanted, as he was now lost, hungry, tired, bored, sore, bruised, cold, and numb and so, so lonely he was now crying so intensely that he might say himself like Niagara Falls! All hope of love had vanished, so far he’d asked a cat, a beaver, a snake [bad mistake!!] And a hedgehog if they would take him in but every single one had replied the same answer, ‘NO!’ But just as he was crying an elegant swan with 4 babies following closely behind strutted up to him and with a  syrupy voice she spoke to him ‘Excuse me young sir do you happen to know where Mrs.Crocs Mud house is? Tommy gave a deep sigh ‘yes I do but there’s a slight problem you see I would like to help you but I’ve just run away from there, my names Tommy.’ As he held out a limp wing he realised the youngsters behind her had the same limp wings and pale beaks as him! The swan followed his stare and spoke ‘oh dear that’s a shame because I lost an egg a long time ago Mrs.Croc found it so I came to pick it up…but I guess I won’t be needing to go anymore…son!’  Tommy gave a delighted grin because things were finally going his way!

And they all lived a classic happily ever after!   

By Emily