The sky was glowing red that night; it was the perfect ending to a very exciting day.

The day Dilly decided to go on an adventure. She had woken as usual with the warm sun on her back, her mother gently nuzzling her and the water lapping calmly beneath her feet.

On a normal day Dilly would follow her mum and siblings everywhere, they kept close together swimming one behind the other up and down the river. But today she decided to do something different, she wanted an adventure. So she swam slowly behind her brothers and sisters and quietly slipped away.

She waddled down the pathway getting further and further away from the river, she hadn’t been going long when she came across a little girl wearing a beautiful white dress with flowers in her hair and filling a basket full of fresh sweet smelling blooms.

The little girl looked at Dilly and the duck looked at the little girl. Dilly was usually afraid of humans but she could see the kindness in the girls face as she bent down and said “Hello little duckling, what’s your name? And where did you come from?”

“I’m called Dilly“ said the little duckling shyly “I have come from the river over there. Today is a special day I am looking for an adventure”

“Adventure” said the little girl “Well I’m Emily and today is a very special day for me too. Would you like to join me on my adventure?”

“Ooh, yes please” said Dilly excited “but why is today special for you?”

“I am to be the flower girl at the Queen’s Garden Party” said Emily proudly. “See my beautiful dress and the pretty flowers in my hair; well I am all done up and almost ready to go .I just came down to the riverbank to pick a few more flowers to give to the Queen ,Why don’t you jump into my basket and we can have a wonderful adventure together”.

Emily lowered her basket to the ground and Dilly jumped in surrounded by the sweet smelling blooms.

Emily started walking back across the fields and in no time at all they reached her house.

Waiting outside was a beautiful coach pulled by a strong white horse dressed up in all its finery.

“Come along Emily” shouted her parents “Where have you been? We are going to be late.”

Emily quickly ran towards the coach clutching her basket tightly, taking care not to hurt Dilly.

“What on earth have you got there?” said her mum shocked. “Oh that’s Dilly Duckling. She wants an adventure, so I told her she could join me on mine. Is that okay mummy?”

“I suppose so, but make sure she doesn’t peck the Queen” said her mum.

“Peck the Queen I would never do that” said Dilly, a little annoyed that anyone could think such a thing.

The journey to the palace passed quickly; crowds of people lined the road and the cheering got louder as they reached the palace gates. They opened to let them through. What a sight to behold, music and laughter filled the air, the palace looked magical, bathed in the mid day sun, and flowers lining the path.

Emily and Dilly were filled with excitement.

A little way ahead they could see a Golden coach pulled by 6 white horses.

“That must be the Queen” said Emily to the duckling. “If you stay quiet in the basket and I will take you with me.” Dilly rubbed her head against Emily’s hand. Both coaches stopped in front of the palace, footmen helped the king and queen out of the golden coach and then came over to Emily’s. They looked very grand in all their finery as they walked towards the cheering crowds. The king and queen shook hands with hundreds of people.

Then it all went quiet. One of the queen’s guards came over to Emily and said “it’s your turn now. Please present your flowers to the Queen.”

Emily was feeling nervous but excited, she walked slowly towards the royal couple, the crowds cheered as Emily curtsied and handed over a beautiful bouquet from her basket. The Queen smiled and thanked Emily, then glanced at the basket. What a surprise she got, when Dilly Duck popped her head up holding out a flower in her beak.

“Thank you” said the Queen, as she gently stroked Daisy’s head. “You have an unusual friend there, Emily” she said smiling.

The Queen then moved through the crowd greeting the other guests.

Emily and Daisy had a wonderful time at the garden party. There was music, dancing, singing, acrobats and all the food and drink you could wish for.

It all came to an end far too quickly and they were back in the coach on their way home. “Thank you Emily for giving me the best adventure of my life. It’s a day I’ll never forget.”

“Neither will I” replied Emily. “It was all the more special for sharing it with you”.

The coach dropped Emily and her parents at their gate. “Time to go home Dilly, your mum must be worried about you.” Emily ran across to the river bank and gently sat the duckling by the side. Dilly waddled off and jumped into the river. Emily waited quietly behind a bush until she heard Dilly’s mother and siblings swimming towards her.

She got a scolding from her mum, who had been very worried all day. But the little duckling would always remember the amazing adventure she had that day.

The sky was glowing red that night; it was the perfect ending to a very exciting day.