Louie stood in a room. He watched as an older female duck caressed three eggs in a cradle. She hummed a song to them, the one Louie remembered uncle Donald had sang to them. Louie said nothing, just watched the tender moment. Finally, she kissed each egg. "I'll be back boys. I love you to the moon and back." Louie watched the woman. She walked towards the door and turned the lights off. She blew one last kiss to them before exiting. Something inside Louie caused him to scream. "Wait! Don't leave me! Please don't go!" he pleaded. When she didn't return, tears formed in Louie's eyes. "No! Please don't leave me here! I need you!"

Louie woke up from his dream with a start. He breathed heavily, after realizing it had been fake. The seven year old surveyed his room. It was the middle of the night. He was still in his bedroom with his brothers, who were both asleep. Louie wiped tears that had been forming in his eyes and rubbed them, too shocked to fall back asleep.

He felt the house boat sway back and forth underneath him. Louie had never liked water. It made him feel queasy and uneasy. It made him feel like his whole world could fall out from under him. We waited for the boat to settle before getting up from his bed.

This dream was not unfamiliar to Louie. He often had it and he knew exactly who the woman in his dream was. His mother, Della duck. Donald rarely spoke of her. Louie longed for her. He wished she would come back from wherever she had gone. But Donald had told them it was unlikely that she would come back. But that didn't keep Louie from hoping.

Hope is what drives people to press on.

Hope is what drives people to try.

Hope is what drives a little duckling to wait at the door of his home, hoping for his mother to return.

And yet, sometimes hope is a liar.

But that doesn't stop him from hoping.

Louie walked to the bathroom and splashed some water in his face. Whenever he had that dream, it reminded him of her. It reminded him why he was living on a boat with his uncle. It reminded him why they had such poor living conditions. It reminded him of his pain.

Louie sneakily crept into Donald's room. Shuffling quietly through a drawer, he pulled out one of Donald's old scrap books. He stepped out to the deck of the boat. He sighed as he flipped through the pages of the book. He stopped and stared at a picture of his mother and uncle. She was slamming his face into a cake in the photo. Louie rubbed his fingers over the photograph. He traced her outline with his finger.

Louie stared out into the dark night sky. The stars twinkled like diamonds. Sitting on its throne in the night was the moon, full and bright. It provided light for those in darkness. Hope for those with none.

Louie sighed as he watched. He jumped when he heard a voice behind him. "Louie, what are you doing awake?" Louie turned around to see Donald. Louie closed the scrap book quickly. "Uh, nothing. I'm, uh, sleep walking," he said. He closed his eyes and pretended to walk around. Donald raised an eyebrow. "Alright, fine you got me," he confessed. "What are you doing with my scrap book?" Donald asked. He took the book from his nephew and turned to the page he had been on. When he saw the picture of Della, he gave a small gasp. "Oh, Louie. Come here," he said. He took a seat at a chair and gestured for Louie to sit on his lap.

Donald hugged the young duck and sang a lullaby.

Song (To the tune of Where the Lost Things Go from Mary Poppin's return)

Donald:

Do you ever lie

awake at night

Just between the dark

And the morning light?

Searching for the things

you used to know

Looking for the place

Where the lost things go

Donald rocked back and forth with Louie on his lap. It was comforting to know that at least Louie had Donald and his brothers.

Do you ever dream

Or reminisce?

Wondering where to find

What you truly miss

Well, maybe all those things

that you love so

Are waiting in the place

Where the lost things go

Donald stroked Louie's bill. Louie began to feel his eyelids starting to get heavy. He let out a yawn and closed his eyes.

Memories you've shared

Gone for good you feared

They're all around you still

Though they've disappeared

Donald picked up a sleeping Louie and walked back inside.

Nothing's really left

Or gone without a trace

Nothing's gone forever

Only out of place

Donald settled Louie in his bed. He tucked him in his blankets. He watched as the sleeping duck formed a smile on his face. Donald kissed his forehead.

So maybe now the dish

And my best spoon

are playing hide and seek

Just behind the moon

Donald looked out the window and into the sky. He looked back to his boys and checked on Huey and Dewey. He gave them kisses too.

Waiting there until

It's time to show

Spring is like that now

Beneath the snow

Hiding in the place

where the lost things go

He cleaned up a few toys from the day, straightening up the room. He shoved a few toy cars into a toy bin. Louie was half awake at this time. He squinted his eyes open and watched his uncle move about the room.

So when you need her touch

Or loving gaze

Gone but not forgotten

Is the perfect phrase

Watching from a star

That she makes glow

Trust she's always near

Watching as you grow

Find her in the place

Where the lost things go

END SONG

Donald left the room with one more turn to the window. He looked out into space and whispered, "Where did you go Della?" Louie had fallen asleep and felt a peace. Hope was what kept him going.