DELIA AND THE RAIN CAPE.

Delia the duck lifted herself off her large and comfortable nest, shook herself vigourously, deployed her wings, folded them and shook them again to settle the feathers back, each in its proper place. She then laid an egg that she ate on toast for her breakfast. Breakfast over she planned her day.Lillie and  her duckling twins were coming to tea, the youngsters were well behaved, no trouble at all and played in the pond under the watchful eye of the adult ducks. She needed to go to the market to buy some treats for the twins and some dandelions to make dandelion biscuits. She gazed out of the window in despair, the rain that had started as a shower had become heavy. She looked in her wardrobe, removing her rain cape and umbrella. The rain cape had a large tear in it, caught inadvertently in a prickly bush and her brolly had broken spokes having turned itself inside out in a gale. Ducks have waterproof feathers but a cape was comforting and a brolly did keep the head dry. She put the cape on anyway and set off with her basket with its waterproof cover, waddling down the path to the market.

The weather being so bad there were few stalls but Delia was able to make the purchases she needed. She was turning for home when she heard someone call her. It was Stanley, a large duck, who owned a stall which sold waterproof capes and umbrellas.

"Hello Delia" he quacked "How are you? My goodness that's a nasty tear in your cape! Not much use to keep you dry! I've got just the cape for you to replace it."

He laid out on the counter a beautiful blue cape with a hood..

Delia gazed at it longingly, such a lovely colour, such a useful hood. Shaking her head sadly she said "I'm sorry Stanley, it is really gorgeous but I can't afford it, I really can't."

She looked so sad that Stanley was troubled

"Tell you what Delia, I'll put it aside for a few days just in case."

"Please don't Stanley, I'd hate you to miss a sale it's not right."

"Delia, I've known you for a long time, please let me do as I suggested, you never know what turns up."

Delia agreed for him to put the cape aside but only for three days. Having reached this satisfying compromise Delia headed for home. She lunched on dandelion fritters and a salad, with rhubarb to follow; She settled in her armchair, having put the dandelion biscuits into bake.She was thinking of a quick doze before Lillie and the twins arrived, when she heard Denis the post duck arrive and the flap on her letter box close.

"Bills or catologues" she thought "I'll check later when Lillie goes."

Lillie and the twins enjoyed a pleasant afternoon with Delia, ate nearly all the biscuits;and the rain having stopped the twins wore themselves out in the pond. A great time was had by all.

Having closed the door on her guests Delia remembered the letter box. She opened it to find a large envellope with writing on it that she knew well. It was from her old friend Daisy. They had been ducklings together but then Daisy moved to another pond. Despite this they kept in touch regularly. She opened the card that she found inside and saw to her amazement that it contained duck money, a large note, so large  she blinked several times to make sure that she wasn't seeing things. She read the card on which Daisy had written:-

"Dear Delia, it will soon be your birthday, treat youself! Love, Daisy."

Delia sat still for a long time gazing at the note. Now she could afford the lovely blue cape and the hood, even one of Stanley's pretty umbrellas and there would be enough money left over to keep for a rainy day. She would go to the market tomorrow. She would post a thank you note to Daisy. It had been a wonderful day with another just like it tomorrow. She realised how tired she was, settled herself in the large comfortable nest, tucked her head under her wings and fell fast asleep!!