The myth

The ugly not-so-little duckling was preening its dull grey feathers by the bank when it caught a glance of itself in the clear blue waters of the lake. She turned her fluffy head away quickly, the reflection a harsh reality she could barely stand to face. She didn't have to look to know that all around her were graceful, beautiful birds with plumage of all the brillant colours of the spectrum. Without thinking, she shrunk her neck into her bulky body and covered her head with her wings, as if by doing so, she could will herself to disappear.

When she was much younger, hiding in misery in the tall grasses from everyone who pointed and made horrible faces at her, she overheard someone talking about a lovely, moving fairytale, 'The Ugly Duckling', in which an ugly duckling, much like herself, turned into a magnificent white swan after enduring much hardship while he was growing up. In the beginning, she bore earnest hopes that the story was real. But, after much waiting, she doubted the wonderful life-changing event would ever happen to her. Slowly now, she had come to accept that no one would ever take any notice of her other than to throw some words of ridicule her way. No one would play with her or let her join in their games. 'Well, I am happy on my own, doing things my way, ' she thought, an obvious bid to console herself.