Vivienne had just moved to her new town with her parents, her parents. Their big house sat on a quiet street where tall trees waved hello outside the windows.
After breakfast, the family explored the backyard. Vivienne pointed at shiny drops of dew, and her dad laughed when a robin hopped along the fence.
Later, they strolled down the sidewalk under maples and fir trees. her mom showed Vivienne the mountains far away, soft and blue beyond the rooftops.
The path led them to a park where Lake Washington glittered between the trees. Vivienne bounced in her stroller and squealed at the ducks bobbing on the water.
Near one maple tree, a red leaf twirled down and landed on Vivienne’s blanket. She held it carefully, as if her new town had given her a tiny treasure.
Then the leaf gave the tiniest silver shimmer. Vivienne leaned forward, and everyone saw something glinting beneath the maple roots.
A fluffy duckling waddled out from behind the wet grass, peeping softly near Vivienne’s wheels. The little bird looked lost, and the lake shimmered beyond the path.
her mom held out her hand, slow and gentle. “Maybe we can help,” she whispered, while Vivienne waved her maple leaf like a tiny flag.
Pip toddled after the red leaf, plip-plip over the wet path. her dad walked beside the stroller, watching carefully for puddles and bicycle bells.
At the edge of the reeds, Pip stopped and peeped louder. From somewhere near the water came a soft quack, then another, and Vivienne kicked her feet with delight.
A brown mama duck appeared, with three ducklings paddling behind her. Pip hurried to them, wiggling so happily that Vivienne clapped both hands.
Mama Duck gave a grateful quack, and the duck family floated together in a neat little line. Vivienne’s maple leaf shimmered once more, as if the park was saying, well done.
