"Why'd you do that?' asked Duck.
"I felt like it," said Cow. "And I'm not sorry."
Flapping furiously, Duck wiped mud from her beak."
Life is not without its difficulties. Even farm animals can have bad days, or so this tale proves. It begins with Cow, who is very unhappy with the mud she must slog through because of the overnight rainstorm. Duck, expecting a usual cheery greeting, is stunned when Cow covers her with mud, and then refuses to apologize. Duck is offended.
Poor frog must bear the brunt of Duck's annoyance. Frog mentions the mud, and wonders about a swim. Duck is rude, but speaks an apology that has no sense of remorse in it at all. Frog is aware, and angry that Duck has called him a nasty name. Bird is quickly made to feel badly when Frog is mean to her. Frog is not sorry at all, but makes a stab at an apology even though he doesn't mean it. Bird follows through by kicking Goat off the branch she says is hers. Goat runs from Bird's meanness, straight into Pig.
When Goat tells Pig that he did exactly what he wanted to do (even though he did not), Pig is heartbroken and breaks down in tears. Can Dog right the wrongs of a day gone badly? His kind nature, patience and gentle reminders about love and friendship turn the tide, and lead to sincere apologies from one animal to the next.
Kids know being sincerely sorry is a big thing. Would that some adults might learn the lesson those kids so willingly teach.
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