Chapter One

Dan and Daisy get a parcel

Daisy ducktail had spent a lovely day on the duck pond collecting soft feathers and strong twigs for the new nest that she and Dan were building, and catching up on all the gossip with all her other friends, but now it was time to get supper ready, she made her way back across the pond to her nest in the reeds.

Supper was ready just in time as husband Dan arrived home after a day's work building the foundations of the new nest in the reed bed,  Quack Quack said Dan as he told her of all his plans, and the two of them Quacked with excitement as they talked about the new nest, Quack Quack Quack.

The next day the sun was shining and as Daisy and Dan ate their breakfast suddenly the sound of a loud Knock on the door huh! must be the post-duck said Daisy, she was right, there at the door stood Postie, with a huge parcel, you will have to sign for this one Daisy said the post-duck.

Daisy shouted to Dan to help her to bring the parcel into the lounge, and the two of them looked at it in amazement, who on earth has sent us this, Quacked Dan? The parcel was wrapped in shiny brown paper and tied up with a pink string topped with a beautiful bow.

The two of them began to unpack the parcel “it's full of soft down feather quacked Dan and as he slowly took out the feather there nestling in the middle was a beautiful egg Quack Quack Quack said Dan its an egg Daisy it’s a beautiful egg. Quack Quack Quack

Daisy clasped her wings together oh Dan we are going to have a baby… Dan took the egg out carefully and placed it on the soft down which Daisy had made into a bed, they both stood side by side and looked at their egg and smiled, I will sit on it all day said Daisy and then when you come home each  day you can take over from me

And so was to be, day after day Daisy and Dan would take it in turns to sit on the egg to keep it warm and wait for it to hatch

Then one bright sunny day Daisy felt something move beneath her, she stood off the egg and to her delight she could see a tiny yellow beak poking its way out of the egg bit by bit it poked and soon daisy could see a little pair of eyes peering out through the hole, just then Dan arrived home and as he walked into the lounge daisy shouted come quickly Dan quick  Quack Quack

Dan entered the room just in time to see the egg crack open and there sitting in the middle of all the broken pieces of egg sat the prettiest, and the yellowest little baby duckling they had ever seen.
Oh said Daisy with have a baby daughter Dan, and Dan stood up as tall as he could and proudly said, yes and the prettiest one on the duck pond, we shall call her Dolly

The next day Dan took the day so he could be with Daisy and their new baby daughter Dolly, they waddled down to the waters edge and the three of them proudly swam around and around the duck pond to show off their new daughter.

Chapter Two

Dolly takes a dive

One day Dolly Ducktail and her friends were splashing and playing in the duck pond and making all sorts of waves in the water “Quack Quack Quack” they all said as they had a lovely time in the warm water, splashing and chasing each other.

Dolly had learned how to dive under the water to feed on the succulent weeds and plant’s found in the ponds bed, she was showing her new friend David how to do it, “ Quack Quack this is the way David, look at me look at me” as she dived deep down only to pop up again with a beak full of delicious weeds.

David watched in wonder at how clever Dolly was, he just wished he could do the same but each time he tried to dive he bounced back up to the surface without having reached the bottom, “Oh dolly how do you manage to go so deep” he quaked

“It’s easy” said Dolly “you just need to raise up high just before you dive look like this”,  she took a great big dive and disappeared under the water again, this time it seemed ages before she popped up again “here I am” quacked Dolly to David
“ Quack Quack,” said David, “I thought you were never going to come up” he laughed and the two of them swam around and around each other laughing and quacking, till they were quite dizzy.

The next day dolly asked her mother if she might go and play on the pond again with her friends, “of course you” can said Mummy “but make sure you are home in time to wash and get ready for your supper or else your father will be angry, and you know how he likes us all to be together at supper time”
“I promise,” said Dolly

“Off you go then dear, and remember what I said,” said Daisy
Dolly made her way to the pond and there were all her friends having a lovely time, she splashed into the water and joined them “Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack” said Dolly and smiled, oh how she loved to play with her friends.

Just then David joined the group “hi Dolly” said David; “guess what I have been practising? Watch me”. he took an almighty leap into the air and then dived deep into the water, dolly looked on and waited for him to pop up she waited and waited but no David she looked all around her, he was nowhere to be seen, “Oh” cried Dolly “I wonder if there is anything wrong”?

And she dived down to see if she could see him there on the bottom was David he had caught his leg in the weeds and couldn't break free, Dolly pecked and pecked at the weeds until at last he was free, up to the surface they both went, “Oh dolly thank you thank you so much you saved my life”

“You had better come home with me” Dolly said, at dolly’s house they told her mother all what had happened, “you must be careful” Mummy said, “and make sure you never dive on your own, promise and I won't tell your father”,
“I promise,” said David

Dolly asked if David could stay for tea and the two of them washed and got ready for supper, as they all sat down to eat Dan looked at David and Dolly and said, “Did you two have a nice day today”? Dolly smiled and quacked
“Oh yes daddy” and smiled at her mother.
And that’s why whenever you see little ducks diving they are always with their friends, never alone.

Chapter Three

Dolly bakes a cake

Today is Dan Ducktails birthday and Daisy had decided to bake Dan a birthday cake, “would you like to help me Dolly?”

“Oh yes please mummy,” said Dolly and she jumped up and down in excitement, “quake quake quake quake quack”

She had never baked a cake before; “well first we have to get all the ingredients ready”, said Mummy “now then we will need some margarine and sugar, and flour oh and some mixed fruit, two eggs and a little salt”

“Gosh mummy,” said dolly “so much”,

“Well if we want it to be a nice tasty cake dolly, we will need all those things”.

Dolly scupper around the kitchen fetching all the things Mummy had asked her for,

“I can’t find any flour Mummy” quacked Dolly

“Oh dear,” said Daisy “yes I remember I meant to buy some today and I forgot”,

“I will go and buy some”, quacked Dolly,

“Ok but remember I want flour dolly that’s the white powder”,

“I won’t forget mummy,” she said and off she waddled to the shops.

On the way she met her friend David and she told him all about her, helping make a cake for her daddy, David said that he had some cake in his bag and if she liked she could share it with him, so the two of them sat on the grass munching away

 “Mmm this is lovely cake” quacked Dolly “I hope ours is as nice”, they spent so much time talking and eating cake that Dolly forgot all about the time, when all of a sudden she remembered “Oh David I had better hurry to the shop and get some flour for our cake”

They both raced to the shop, but it was too late it had closed, “oh my goodness me what shall I do”? cried dolly “Mummy will be so angry as she wanted to make the cake for daddy’s tea tonight”.

“I will come home with you Dolly and tell your Mummy it was all my fault”, the two of them started their homeward journey “what is flour anyway,” asked David

“I am not sure” said dolly “but I do know it’s a sort of white powder”, as they continued they passed a builders yard and there in the yard was a bucket which the builder and put some cement in ready to mix up, “look” said David “that looks like flour, and there is so much of it I am sure the man won’t miss a little”, they put some of the cement in a bag and ran off home, “now I have no need to say anything to your mummy” said David “ quake quack” they both laughed.

That evening dolly washed early ready for her Daddy’s birthday tea, the door opened and there stood Dan. “HAPPY Birthday” cried Dolly “quake quack Mummy and I have made a lovely cake for you”

“Have you darling” said Daddy “I will look forward to having a slice of that”, he opened his presents and after tea the cake come out, mummy had decorated it with icing sugar and lots of candles, dolly told him of her trip to the shop and what had happened, Dan looked at Daisy and smiled, “you cut it Daddy” cried Dolly she was so excited as Dan put the knife to the cake 

Suddenly a loud CRACK and the knife broke in two, wow “this is a hard cake” said Daddy, And the three of them quacked and laughed out loud “ quake quack this is the best birthday present I have ever had” said daddy, and laughed some more.

Chapter four

A day at the seaside

It was the first day of the month of July, the middle of summer,  so Dan and Daisy had decided to go for a trip to the seaside, it was a lovely sunny day and Dolly Ducktail  was so excited, she was awake and up before anyone else, she had got together her bucket and spade and just couldn't wait to play on the sand and start making sandcastles, her friend David was coming too, and he was soon knocking on the door, his Mummy had packed some sandwiches and ginger cake for him.

Soon all four of them were in the car and ready to go, Dolly and David sat in the back with a very large picnic hamper between them, and off they went, it was so exciting they just couldn't sit still or stop quacking,  quack quack Daisy turned around from the front seat and said “will you two sit still please you are giving Mummy a headache” but we are So excited Mummy said Dolly OK quacked Mummy well just be excited a little quieter please, the two of them looked at each other and giggled.

Soon they arrived at the seaside, Dolly and David rushed down to the water's edge and started to put all the buckets and spades and all the other things they had brought along with them, on the sand, Mummy spread out a very large blanket for them all to sit on, and so the day began.
.
Can we go and paddle please Mummy quacked Dolly? of course you can darling and I think Daddy would like a paddle too that will give me time to get our picnic ready, so the three of them made their way to the water

Dolly was the first to go in and soon all three of them were splashing around and having a lovely time all of a sudden Dan jumped up and down quacking out loud QUACK QUACK cried Dan, what is it? Daddy shouted Dolly

 I don’t know said Daddy I have just got this pain on my big toe, lets get out of the water, they jumped out of the water and sat on the sand Daddy held his foot up, and there on his toe was the biggest crab you have ever seen, hahaha laughed David and Dolly quack quack quack quack Dan shook off the crab and then saw the funny side of it.

Well now I know why they say Pinch punch first of the month said Dolly and she and David ran back to tell Mummy what had happened to Daddy, Daisy laughed, and when Daddy hobbled back to them Daisy said are you OK Dan with a giggle in her voice, huh its not funny he said and smiled, you wouldn't laugh if it had happened to you, and they all quacked and laughed and sat down to began their picnic.

At the end of the day they all packed their things back into the car and drove home, dropping David off on the way,” thank you very much for a lovely day Mr and Mrs Ducktail” said David, and I’ll see you tomorrow Dolly, OK said Dolly.

That evening Dolly turned to her Daddy and said “I didn't mean to laugh when you had your toe pinched Daddy, but it was so funny seeing you jump up and down, and I had such a lovely day, that’s alright Darling said Daddy now you go and get yourself ready for bed.

Chapter five

The Bar-B-Q

Dolly was so excited as today Daddy had told her they were going to have a Bar-B-Q and she wasn’t sure just what it was, but it sounded so very nice, after breakfast Daddy sat Dolly on his knee and explained all about Bar-B-Q’s she loved to be with her Daddy as he would often read her stories and it was always so cuddly with him.

Mummy had promised Dolly that she could help her get it all ready so as soon as all the morning things had been done and dusted Daisy went to the kitchen to make a start to getting the food ready for the afternoons Bar-B-Q and there sitting on the breakfast stool was Dolly she clapped her hands together in excitement when she saw Mummy  quack quack she went as she just loved helping her Mummy make things in the kitchen, what do we do first Mummy what do we do first squawked Dolly?

Well we can start be making some rub for the meat Daddy will cook later Dolly, so out came all the spices and Dolly helped Mummy to mix it all together, when they had finished Mummy showed Dolly how to rub it all over the meat and then to put it away so Daddy could use it later, are we going to have sausages Mummy?

I love sausages, yes we can have some sausages and we will also get some fish ready as well, Ohh this is going to be so yummy mummy and then dolly laughed  quack quack as she realized what she had just said yummy mummy yummy mummy yummy mummy quack she said.

Soon it was time for the Bar-B-Q Daddy called Dolly come out into the garden to show her how he would light the coals, now then Dolly Said Daddy first of all you must NEVER play with matches do you understand? Dolly nodded, OK  said Daddy here we go, he lit the BAR-B-Q, and now we have to wait until the flames go down Dolly so you can help me to bring out all the food and put it all on the table.


Dolly helped fetch all the food that she and Mummy had prepared earlier Dolly laid it all out on the table all nice and neat, do the sausages first Daddy please begged Dolly, No darling It takes the meat longer so I will do the meat and fish first and then lastly the sausages, I understand said Dolly with a little sad look on her face, so onto the fire went the fish and the meat.

After a little while Daddy turned to Dolly and said ok I think we can put the sausages on now Dolly quack quack quack quack quack said Dolly with excitement she went to the table and put all the sausages on a tray to give to Daddy

But then BANG and the sky opened up with the biggest rainstorm she had ever seen, Dolly ran into the house along with the sausages Daddy and Mummy followed , wow said Daddy  that was quite a thunderstorm and to make matters worse we lost all the food

Oh no we haven’t Daddy quack Dolly we still have all the sausages, Dan and Dolly laughed and so Mummy cooked the sausages and they all sat at the table with a delicious plate of Dolly’s sausages.
I like Bar-B-Qs Daddy said Dolly, can we have another soon?  They all laughed quack quack quack quack quack.    

Chapter Six

Bluebells and steam trains

Dolly ducktail and David had decided to collect some bluebells, they knew of a place by the side of the Bluebell line, this was an old steam train railway line and although steam trains had long since gone, this line had been kept open by a crowd of people who loved Steam trains, and Dolly and David loved them too.
They would often sit along the line and watch all the old trains chuff by.

Today David’s grandmother was coming to visit him and he wanted to give to her with a great big bunch of bluebells so the two of them made their way to the line.
Soon they were picking all the lovely bluebells and before long the two of them had a great big armful, Oh Dolly said David, I think Granma will love these.

All of a sudden they heard the Whooo of an approaching train, there’s a train coming ,there’s a train coming quacked David, Quack Quack Quack lets go up onto the bridge and watch it go under he said.

The two of them ran as fast as they could to get to the bridge before the train arrived.
Whooo Whooo went Dolly copying the sound of the train, the train approached the bridge with steam billowing from it chimney, then under the bridge it went the whole bridge was covered in steam hahaha   Quack Quack the two of them went, and as the steam slowly cleared Dolly roared with laughter Oh David you have gone all black hahaha he said so have you.

The steam of the puffing Billy had blackened them, we had better get home and wash said Dolly, so both of them made their way to David’s home and washed all the soot off and made themselves look smart before they met Grandma

Let's give Grandma her bluebells now David quacked, there was granny sitting in her rocking chair, we have a present Grandma said the two of them and gave her the big bunch of Bluebells, Oh said Granma thank you so very much, how lovely, and how unusual,  wherever did you managed to get Black Bluebells? I have never seen anything like it before.

David grinned to Dolly  Quack Quack I think next time we had better watch the trains go by, from the side of the bank ha ha hahaha Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack.

Chapter Seven

The skateboard

Dolly Ducktail and David were having a great time playing on David’s skateboard, he was showing Dolly all sorts of different tricks he could do, watch this Dolly he squawked,  as he balanced on just two wheels

 Quack Quack shouted Dolly with glee do some more David do some more, so David skated up and down showing off to Dolly, they had a lovely time, let me try David said Dolly, OK he said but be careful you don’t fall off

Dolly started off slowly one foot on the board and one skating on the ground David clapped his hands “Well done Dolly, well done. at the end of the day Dolly rushed home to tell Mummy and Daddy all about her skateboarding, well you know Dolly Daddy was very good on the skateboard  when he was younger he will love to hear all about your skateboarding, so you can tell him all about it when he gets home.

That evening during tea Dolly told Daddy all about her adventure on David’s skateboard; well he said you must be careful as you can hurt yourself.

The next day, as it was a Saturday, Daddy told Dolly he would go with her to watch her on the board and maybe give her some of his advice, they got to the park just in time to see David skating along.

 Dolly waved as he stood on one leg and waved back, watch this Dolly said David as he spun his board around and around, then he headed towards an iron bar at the side of the road, right at the last moment he jumped off the board, as it went under the bar then he landed the other side

Oh, Daddy isn't he clever? Yes, he is very good Dolly but that’s nothing Dolly you watch me said Daddy.

He went to David and asked if he could borrow his board, watch this Dolly this is called a Boardslide he skated along the path then he and his board jumped up on to a railing running along side of the path balancing on the board he slid all along the railing, his two arms outstretched to balance himself

But just as he was about to jump off the board he slipped and went Splat! Onto the path, I am sure he must have seen stars as he lay there on his back with David’s skateboard on top of him

Oh I see said Dolly, that’s what you meant by being careful I could get hurt, OK Daddy I promise not to do that one. Quack Quack Quack and Dolly and David rolled about laughing.