One of these swans, however, was so much more beautiful than the others that creatures came from all over just to watch her glide gracefully across the water.
The other swans were terribly jealous of the extra attention she got.
"Hmph!" said one, "Everyone says they like the way she glides, but it's really because of her looks!"
"That's right," said another, "I've seen ducks and geese every bit as graceful as her but you don't see anyone lining up to watch them!"
"Well, you know," said the third, "I have it on good authority that she doesn't even do her own gliding."
The especially beautiful swan overheard this and was hurt and confused. She knew she was beautiful (she'd seen her reflection after all) but truly believed that her gliding was as graceful as gliding got and that her popularity had nothing at all to do with her appearance. And she had never, ever used a gliding double.
She decided to find out once and for all whether she was admired for her grace or if she really was just getting by on her looks. But to do that, she would have to pretend to be some other type of waterfowl.
To research her ruse, she took several lunch meetings with a duck, and lived with a family of geese for a week.
When the beautiful swan returned to the pond, she was cleverly disguised as the silliest goose you ever saw.
She spent a couple of days gliding back and forth as gracefully as ever, all the while keeping a sharp eye out to see if anyone was watching.
Some Woodland creatures standing on the shoreline (not so many as usual, but respectable for an opening weekend) commented that the silly goose out there sure could glide gracefully.
Even the other swans, who normally didn't give geese a second glance, noticed her.
"She can glide well, said one, "I'll give her that."
"Pity she's not a swan," said another, "Then she'd really have something."
"Yes," said the third, "It isn't fair, I suppose, but a goose that silly looking doesn't stand a chance in this pond."
Upon hearing that last remark, the beautiful swan gracefully glided over to her old flock and threw off the disguise, revealing herself to be one of them, albeit way more beautiful.
The other swans honked wildly, first in shock and surprise, then with praise for her remarkable performance.
"A tour-de-force!" said one, "If you watch only one swan pretending to be a goose this year, make it her!"
"How brave of you, darling" said another, "What was it like to not be so beautiful?"
"Whose feathers are you wearing?" asked the third, "They are just fabulous!"
The beautiful swan told the others all about how it felt to not be recognized, how many hours it had taken to put on the disguise and how the whole experience had given her more respect for geese and, to a lesser extent, ducks.
As soon as the beautiful swan glided away, once again feeling very good about herself, the other swans started trash-talking about her.
"What a show-off!" said one, "What was that supposed to prove?"
"Why would a swan pretend to be a goose?" said another, "Geese want to be swans, not the other way around!"
"Some birds will do anything to get attention," said the third, "Talk about needy!"
Moral: Birds of a feather, my ass.
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