Percy the Peacock and the Rainy Day
Percy is proud of his shiny tail feathers — until a rainy day shows him what really makes someone beautiful.
Percy the peacock had the most beautiful tail in the garden. When he opened it, it spread like a giant fan of blue and green, full of shimmering eye-spots.
Every day, Percy strutted past the other birds. "Look at me," he said. "Aren't I the prettiest?"
The duck looked at her plain brown feathers. The hen looked at her plain white ones. They sighed.
One afternoon, dark clouds rolled in and it began to pour. The little ducklings and chicks were caught far from home, shivering in the rain.
"Oh no!" cried the hen. "They'll get so cold!"
Percy looked at his fancy tail. If it got muddy and wet, it wouldn't shine anymore.
Then he looked at the shivering babies.
Percy spread his tail as wide as it would go and held it over the little ones like a giant umbrella. "Everyone underneath!" he called.
The rain drummed on his feathers. Mud splashed his legs. But the chicks and ducklings stayed dry and warm.
When the storm ended, Percy's tail was droopy and dirty. But the duck and hen were smiling at him in a way no one had smiled before.
"Percy," said the hen, "that was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
Percy realized that being kind made him feel far more beautiful than any feather ever had.
⭐ The End ⭐
💬 Talk about it
- What was Percy proud of?
Show answer
His beautiful tail feathers. - How did Percy help the chicks and ducklings?
Show answer
He held his tail over them like an umbrella. - What did Percy learn makes someone beautiful?
Show answer
Being kind.
