The sun was just beginning to rise over the quiet farm when Bibi, a young golden retriever, stretched her legs and let out a yawn. The air was filled with the gentle sounds of birds chirping and the rustling of leaves in the morning breeze. Bibi loved mornings; they were filled with excitement, adventure, and the promise of a new day. But today, something was different. As she trotted toward the pond, she noticed Mama Duck pacing back and forth, her feathers ruffled and her eyes filled with worry.
Bibi tilted her head in concern. “What’s wrong, Mama Duck?” she asked.
“Oh, Bibi! It’s terrible! One of my ducklings is missing!” Mama Duck quacked anxiously. “I counted them this morning, and there were only nine instead of ten!”
Bibi’s ears perked up. She was a smart and loyal dog, and she knew she had to help. “Don’t worry, Mama Duck. I’ll find your little one,” she promised, wagging her tail with determination.
Mama Duck nodded, though worry still filled her eyes. Bibi sniffed around the pond, trying to pick up the scent of the missing duckling. She knew ducklings had a distinct smell—like warm feathers and fresh water. But with the morning dew and so many other scents in the air, it was hard to find the right one.
Bibi decided to start by asking around. She trotted up to the cows in the pasture. “Have any of you seen a little duckling wandering around?” she asked.
One of the cows, Daisy, chewed her cud thoughtfully before answering. “I did see something small and yellow waddling near the old wooden fence earlier,” she said.
Bibi’s tail wagged. “Thank you, Daisy! I’ll check it out.”
She ran towards the fence, sniffing the ground as she went. But when she got there, all she found were a few scattered feathers. She let out a sigh and continued searching.
Next, Bibi spotted Benny, the mischievous barn cat, sitting on a fence post, licking his paw. “Benny, did you see a duckling around here?” she asked.
Benny flicked his tail lazily. “Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t,” he said with a sly grin.
Bibi huffed. “Benny, this is serious. Mama Duck is really worried.”
The cat sighed and stretched. “Fine, fine. I saw the little fluff ball waddling near the vegetable garden. Try there.”
“Thanks, Benny!” Bibi barked before dashing toward the garden. She sniffed around the lettuce and carrots but found nothing. Just when she was about to lose hope, she heard a tiny peep coming from a nearby bush.
Excited, Bibi poked her nose into the bush. But to her disappointment, it wasn’t the missing duckling—it was a small field mouse. “Oh, I’m sorry! I thought you were someone else,” Bibi apologized.
The mouse twitched its whiskers. “If you’re looking for a duckling, I saw one heading toward the barn earlier.”
Bibi’s ears perked up again. “Thank you!”
She ran toward the barn, hoping this time she’d find the lost duckling. As she reached the barn doors, she heard a faint quacking sound. Her heart raced. She pushed her way inside and looked around. The barn was big, filled with stacks of hay, wooden barrels, and farm tools. The quacking grew louder, and Bibi’s eyes landed on a small, fluffy yellow duckling stuck between two hay bales.
“There you are!” Bibi exclaimed.
The duckling peeped helplessly. He had wandered into the barn, looking for adventure, but had gotten himself stuck. Bibi carefully nudged the hay bales aside with her nose, creating enough space for the duckling to wiggle free.
The moment the duckling was out, he flapped his tiny wings happily. “Thank you, Bibi!” he quacked.
“Come on, let’s get you back to your mama,” Bibi said gently, picking him up by the scruff of his neck the way she had seen the mother cat carry her kittens.
As Bibi made her way back to the pond, she felt proud of herself. She had promised to find the duckling, and she had done it. When they reached the pond, Mama Duck let out a loud, relieved quack and rushed to her baby. The other ducklings gathered around their sibling, chirping and nuzzling him happily.
“Oh, Bibi, I can’t thank you enough!” Mama Duck said, her eyes filled with gratitude.
Bibi wagged her tail. “It was my pleasure! Just make sure this little one doesn’t wander off again.”
The duckling nuzzled Bibi’s fur. “I won’t! I was scared without my family.”
With a happy heart, Bibi watched the reunited family swim off together. The sun was now fully up, shining brightly over the farm. It had been a hard morning, but in the end, everything had turned out just right. As Bibi trotted back to her favorite shady spot under the big oak tree, she sighed contentedly. Today had been an adventure, and she was ready for a well-earned nap.
