Once upon a time in Lagos, there lived a family: Papa Anikulapo, Mama Adigun, and their son, Ade. They called him Ade, which means "crown" in Yoruba because it seemed like he always carried himself like royalty. Ade had a favorite hobby – swimming in the river near their house.
Every day, after Ade finished his chores and ate his food, he would run to the river to swim. He felt like he was flying as his body glided through the water like a bird. He was happy as the cool water washed over him, and his mind felt clear like it was a new morning.
But one day, trouble came knocking on Ade's door. The river he used to swim in began to dry up. There was no rain, and the sun shone too much. The water that remained became dirty and smelly, like spoiled soup. Ade couldn't swim there anymore, and he started to feel sad and frustrated.
One evening, Ade called his parents, Mama and Papa, as they sat in their house. "The river has dried up, and I can't swim anymore. What should I do?"
Papa Anikulapo and Mama Adigun looked at each other and smiled. "My child," Mama began, "don't worry. 'Water off a duck's back' is what they say. It means, no matter what happens, you can shake it off and move on."
Papa nodded in agreement. "Yes, my child. Instead of feeling sad, let's find a solution. We can try digging a well for water or even collect rainwater in drums. We'll make sure you can swim again, no matter what."
Ade smiled as his parents spoke. They were right. Instead of crying over the dry river, he would find a solution and move on. So, they worked together as a family, digging a well and collecting rainwater until they had enough for Ade to swim again.
As Ade dove into the cool, fresh water once more, he remembered what his parents said about "water off a duck's back." He realized that life was like a river – it could dry up sometimes, but it's how you handle it that makes the difference. With the love and support of his family, Ade learned that he could shake off any problem like water off a duck's back and keep moving forward.