aimlessly around until she finally trips over the duck’s crutch How nice to meet you The duck politely helps the dazed chicken back to her feet It’s gratifying to meet someone worse off than oneself What do you mean the chicken asks in a surprisingly firm voice I’m perfectly all right What makes you think there’s something wrong with me
Well you are blind The duck sighs I can’t think of anything worse than being unable to see It doesn’t make me any less of a chicken The chicken laughs Then she wags her wing Being blind has more advantages than you might think For starters it means I don’t care what you look like The duck’s eyes start to blaze I don’t look too bad for a duck with a wonky leg Or if the lights go out in the stairwell and everyone starts to panic the chicken goes on unruffled I remain completely calm But the best thing about me is that I’m a remarkably good listener She stops What did you just say That I look pretty good for a duck with a wonky leg What’s more I’m loyal honest and adventurous and my heart’s in the right place So you’re a duck with a wonky leg The chicken quickly stretches her wings and
examines the duck from head to toe then pats her on the head I wanted a guide dog but a duck with a wonky leg is better than nothing You’ll do just as well to guide me on my journey At the very thought of leaving her yard the duck begins to tremble I’d need to know where we’d be going Somewhere in the world the chicken murmurs there’s a place where all our secret wishes come true Are you coming I’ll have to think about it The duck pokes at the ground with her crutch It’s not the first she’s heard of this place Many have set out in search of it but all have failed Nobody has ever found it It probably doesn’t even exist Are you still there asks the chicken I’m still thinking Take your time But get a move on
I have a much better idea says the duck at last Why don’t we just stay here in my backyard The outside world is riddled with dangers It’s all too easy to come to a sticky end We’d be better off making ourselves comfortable here behind these high walls The chicken yawns loudly Then she comes closer to the duck maybe a little too close lays a wing over her shoulder and whispers beguilingly Don’t you have a secret wish Come on you can tell me Everyone has them
