All Chapters of No Little Duck Came Back: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

My parents clinked their glasses and smiled."Finally. That useless waste of space can rot at the bottom of the ocean and become fish food. Our family has never needed him, not when we already have Amber."I hovered in the air and watched the look of disgust on my father's face when he mentioned me. The sight startled me. I had not realized how little I meant to him for so long.My mother took her seat at the white grand piano and let her fingers move across the keys. Liebesträume by Franz Liszt filled the air, light and delicate.When she finished, Amber, my older sister, ran up and kissed her cheek. "That was fantastic, Mom. I don't know why Jesse used to claim he couldn't hear what you were playing. It had to be an act. He was jealous of how much you love me, Mom."My mother tapped Amber's nose with a fond smile. "He's tone-deaf and completely lacking in musical talent. Of course he would say something like that."I drifted toward the piano and reached for a key. My teacher ha

"I've never said anything like that, Amber! You told me to count how many little ducks there were, so Dad would finally love me when I got it right!"Amber could not see me. She finished the last of her ice cream, licked her lips in satisfaction, and grinned sweetly. "Dad, don't worry. Jesse is old enough to take care of himself. He'll come back."My father nodded and gently draped his coat over her shoulders. "I know, sweetie. I'm glad I can always rely on you. Come on, let's go inside for the cake."My parents and sister retreated into the comfort of their warm cabin. I could hear their muffled laughter and cheer through the thick window, yet I could not enter.They cut into a massive three-layer cake. Amber fed the first piece to my father and the second to my mother. They broke into laughter, like one big happy family.It stung. I never felt like I had a place among them.I turned to the sea. My body bobbed in and out of the water, drifting alone toward the distant abyss, car

That was my shoe. My grandmother had bought it at a dollar store.My mother had tried to throw it away several times. She thought it looked cheap and trashy. She claimed I was humiliating the family by wearing it.However, I could never let it go. It was the only birthday present I had ever received. I kept it clean at all times and drew a small smiley face on it."That's… That's Jesse's shoe," my mother whispered, her voice shaking.She reached out to touch it, then pulled her hand back. "No. How could he lose his shoe? That's impossible. He just kicked it away so he could swim faster!""Exactly! That little brat always liked running barefoot!" my father insisted, his voice breaking. He trembled. "Find him! I want the person, not this stupid junk! Find him!""No, Mom and Dad. The shoe came off because I was kicking the water as hard as I could. When the freak wave hit me, I tried to stay afloat by kicking harder, and the wave took my shoe. I was so scared. I wanted to scream for

I watched them cry without emotion. I no longer wanted cake or piano lessons."My condolences, but please allow me to continue the examination," the forensic scientist said, cutting in. He took out a flashlight and began to inspect my face.When the beam reached my ear canals, he let out a startled "Oh."He reached in with forceps and pulled something out. It was an old in-the-canal hearing aid, tinted to match my skin. It had lodged deep in my ear, and its outer shell had yellowed from years of wear. The battery cover hung loose, held in place with strips of tape that had failed.He raised the hearing aid toward my parents. "Your child suffered from hearing loss, didn't he?"My parents stared at the small device in confusion, as if they had never seen it before."That can't be right! He's fine. He can hear us. He even responds.""He's just a little slow sometimes. You have to call him a few times, that's all."The scientist set the hearing aid on a tray and gave a short, disbe

The footage continued for three more minutes. My strength gave out, and I could no longer struggle.When I was a child, my parents taught me to speak by shaping words with my mouth. I turned to the camera and mouthed, "Goodbye."The footage ended.A tearful, wrenching wail tore through the interrogation room. My father slammed his hand against the table in regret. My mother fainted from grief.The police officers turned off the footage and looked at them with contempt and anger. "Jason and Lucy Folly, you have committed manslaughter and child abuse. Your daughter is not even 14, yet she has already shown deeply troubling behavior."I watched it unfold and felt some of my resentment ease. The truth was finally out. Everyone now knew I was never a useless burden. I had been a good kid.…My funeral was simple. There was no need for anything lavish for a life lost so young.My grandparents attended. My grandmother nearly fainted several times as she wailed.At last, she pointed a