| she pinched me a bit on the ear. Hunger, yes,
she must be hungry, my poor Anita, and thirsty as well. Although the basket
contained some hay, there was no grain or water. Anita was returned to
the basket - and I ran to get some water and some grains. And she ”shoveled”
it all in - grains and water. After all, I KNEW DUCKS. I had collected
much experience with ducks. How many times had I fed the ducks of the orphanage
- now I was feeding Anita, my very own duck. Of course, it was not
too long before Anita had to join the other ducks in the duck house. It
was nighttime, |
|
and Miss Lehmann came along to help me out. She
said: ”See, Hansli, your wish came true. What a nice Christmas gift you
received. I am sure you will now really try to be a good boy, always, and
do your chores well and right.” I did try, but did not always succeed.
But I had my own duck, which did not have to go to the kitchen. That is,
not as long as I was in the orphanage.
Three years later I left the orphanage. Anita
stayed with the other ducks. In the years to come, I had other wishes,
of which many came true. But a white, fat duck of my own, with a yellow
bill and blue eyes, |
|
| such a gift comes along only once in a lifetime;
it had been a fairytale - once upon a time! The orphanage ”Sonnenberg”
in Zurich is now called a children and youth center. No more are the chickens,
the chicken coops, and the ducks. Once upon a time, there was a duck ..... |
Merry Christmas!
Jan A. Loeffler
Colorado Springs, USA |
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