Daisy the Duck and the Trouble with Taking the Easy Way
Story by Bill Conley
Moral:
Taking shortcuts may feel good in the moment, but it often leads to weak
results, disappointment, and missed opportunities to grow. When we put in the
work and take our time, we gain more than just success—we gain skill, strength,
and self-respect. Easy routes may look appealing, but they usually lack a
strong foundation. True achievement comes from steady effort and a willingness
to do things the right way.
Daisy the Duck lived near the
sparkling banks of Maple Lake, where she loved floating, splashing, and
enjoying the breeze in her feathers. She was cheerful and popular, known for
always having something clever to say. But when it came to work, Daisy
had a reputation—she avoided it.
“I don’t like sweating,” Daisy often
quacked. “If I can skip the hard stuff, I will.”
She cut corners on chores, rushed
through assignments, and rarely finished anything she started. “Why build a
nest when you can just nap in someone else’s?” she joked.
One spring morning, Miss Squirrel
gathered all the young animals of the lake and made an exciting announcement.
“We’re starting the Great Raft
Challenge!” she chirped. “Each of you will build your own floating raft using
sticks, vines, and leaves. The rafts will race across Maple Lake next
Saturday!”
All the animals cheered—except
Daisy, who wrinkled her bill. “Build my own raft? That sounds like too much
work.”
Miss Squirrel continued, “Each raft
must be made by you and only you. We want to see how each of you problem-solve
and build with care.”
Daisy sighed. “I’ll figure something
out.”
The next day, Benny the Beaver was
already busy carving logs. Tilly the Turtle braided vines with her strong
little legs. Even Milo the Mouse was dragging twigs twice his size into a tidy
pile.
Daisy waddled around watching
everyone. “Too slow,” she muttered. “Too sweaty. Too much work.”
Instead of collecting her own
materials, Daisy made a plan. That evening, while the others rested, she
tiptoed down to the lakeshore and took some of Benny’s leftover wood, a few
vines from Tilly’s pile, and even swiped Milo’s floaty leaves.
By the next afternoon, Daisy had
cobbled together a raft that looked good—on the outside. She hadn’t tied
her knots properly, her logs weren’t balanced, and she hadn’t tested it in the
water even once. But she shrugged. “It’s fine! I’ll float just fine!”
Race day came, and all the animals
gathered at the shore. Miss Squirrel stood at the dock with her acorn whistle.
“Ready... set... GO!”
The rafts splashed into the water.
Benny’s raft glided smoothly. Tilly’s raft rocked but held strong. Milo’s raft,
small and sweet, kept pace surprisingly well.
But Daisy?
As soon as she stepped onto her
raft, the vines slipped. The sticks shifted. The whole thing wobbled once,
twice—then flipped, tossing Daisy into the cold lake with a loud splash!
The crowd gasped.
Daisy paddled awkwardly to shore,
soggy and embarrassed. Her raft floated away in pieces.
Miss Squirrel helped her out of the
water. “Are you alright, Daisy?”
Daisy nodded slowly. “I took the
easy way. I didn’t really build it. I just threw it together and hoped no one
would notice.”
“You noticed,” Miss Squirrel said gently.
Daisy sighed. “I guess the easy way
isn’t always the best way.”
After the race, the other animals
didn’t tease her. Instead, Milo offered her a dry towel. Tilly handed her a
fresh vine. Benny said, “Next time, I’ll show you how to balance your logs better.”
Daisy smiled shyly. “Would you guys
really help me?”
“Of course,” said Miss Squirrel.
“Learning from a mistake is the best kind of learning.”
The next day, Daisy started over.
She gathered her own sticks. She asked questions. She practiced tying knots
again and again until her wings ached.
It took her longer than everyone
else. Her wings got dirty. She even missed a nap or two.
But when she pushed her new raft
into the water later that week, it floated strong and steady.
Daisy grinned. “This one’s mine.
And it’s real.”
From that day on, Daisy still loved
to float and splash—but she learned that nothing felt as good as finishing
something the right way.
She had learned the hard way that
shortcuts often sink.
Moral to the story Poem:
If you skip the work, you miss the prize,
The raft will sink despite its size.
But build with care, and soon you'll see—
The greatest strength comes steadily.
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