Ollie the Otter Goes Exploring

Ollie the clawless Otter and his family lived under a huge boulder at the edge of a forest near the seashore. They spent their days searching for food along the shoreline and in the shallow waters of the sparkling ocean. Otters are very good hunters who use speed and agility to catch fish and sharp eyesight to find crabs, snails, and other tasty morsels. They cannot breathe underwater but can hold their breath for up to five minutes at a time. Ollie was a young Otter who loved exploring. He was learning all the names of the reef creatures and discovering many wonderful things about the shoreline. His Mom had just finished teaching him how to use rocks to break the shells of yummy-tasting snails and avoid a crab’s pincers when snatching it off the seabed. He was curious about everything, asking endless questions and touching anything new with his sensitive hands and feet.

One bright morning Ollie noticed a strange-looking group of jellyfish swimming together in unusually straight lines. They were quite deep and the light glinted off their thin tentacles most interestingly. He had to check them out. Ollie took a deep breath, wriggled his powerful tail and swooshed down to get a closer look. In an instant, Ollie was tangled in a mess of thin strands that covered his whole body. Squeaking in surprise, he struggled to free himself causing the strands to tighten around him. Escape was impossible. Oh no! He had become trapped! Ollie’s head poked through a hole, three legs were tied together and his tail was locked against his side. Terrified and confused, he slowly sank all the while crying in alarm, he repeatedly called for his Mom or Dad. Curious Ollie had swum too far from them so they couldn’t hear.

What a pitiful sight it was! Entangled in strong Nylon strands, the poor baby Otter lay twitching on the bottom, struggling feebly to free himself as the breath seeped out of him bit by bit. Soon he would have no breath left! At this very moment, Sheila the swimming crab was wafting along in the current when she noticed a sad sight. Ollie was desperately squeaking for help as the net held him tightly in its merciless grip. Without further thought, Sheila swam down and began cutting the Nylon strands with her special pincers.

Ollie felt like giving up. He closed his eyes, tired and frightened. " - I can't do it," Ollie sighed, feeling hopeless. Just then, he heard a small voice. " - Don't worry, I'll help," said a swimming crab with sharp pincers.

Ollie floated on his back gulping in the sweet fresh air. It took several minutes for the little Otter to regain his senses and fully understand how lucky he had been to have received help from the special crab. Ollie gave the crab a big hug and thanked Sheila with friendly squeaks. He told her that he would always remember this good deed.

When he told his parents about the terrifying adventure they made a promise that from that day forward they would no longer eat swimming crabs, no matter how yummy they were. This was because they firmly believed that one good turn deserves another and Sheila had saved their precious boy from drowning.