Dilly the small duckling lived by a sparkling, clear pond.

She loved to splash her little yellow feet and paddle.

Dilly waddled to the water's smooth, green edge.

Dilly: “Splash, splash, happy water play!”

Above her, fluffy white clouds drifted softly across the wide blue sky.

One kind cloud, Nimbus, was extra soft and friendly looking.

Nimbus: “Hello down there, little duckling!”

Dilly looked up with longing, dreamy eyes.

Dilly: “I wish I could fly up high!”

Dilly: “Up so very high, like you do!”

Nimbus: “It's quite far, far up here, Dilly.”

Dilly felt a little sad, a tiny wobbly sigh.

Her small, fluffy wings were still too tiny to lift her.

Nimbus: “Oh, don't be sad, my sweet Dilly.”

Nimbus: “I can help you touch the sky with your dreams.”

Nimbus floated gently lower, closer to the calm pond.

Dilly: “How can you help me, dear friend?”

Nimbus: “Now, just look at the water's surface.”

Nimbus cast a soft, shimmering grey shadow right on the clear pond.

The pond water became like a big, beautiful mirror.

Dilly: “Oh, a great big, wonderful cloud!”

Dilly paddled right into the cloud's reflection.

Nimbus: “See? You are swimming so high now!”

Dilly: “I am flying high! Up in the sky!”

Dilly twirled and dipped happily in the watery cloud.

The sky glowed with warm, orange evening colors.

Dilly: “Thank you, thank you, dear cloud friend!”

Nimbus: “Dreams come in many lovely, surprising ways.”

Dilly learned to find joy in her own special way, her heart full of warmth.

Back in her cozy, soft nest, Dilly snuggled down deep.

She drifted off, dreaming of swimming among the wispy clouds.