Swim

-

Once upon a time, an octopus beheld a penguin crying on the beach.

He stuck his head out of the low tide and asked her,

"Why are you crying? All your friends have gone off swimming, yet you sit alone in the sand..."

-

She sniffled and covered her teary eyes with black flipper wings.

"I am afraid of the sharks and the whales," She cried, many of the gulls nearby shaking their heads in disbelief.

But the octopus came closer, offering her a tentacle.

-

"I understand you are afraid," He smiled as an octopus does and pulled her slowly closer toward the sea.

"But there is nothing to fear." At this, he pulled her into the salty water, down into the reef which lay below.

She fought, scared that he might hurt her, but once she saw the beautiful coral, she gave and slowly swam beside him.

-

"Lovely," She said, her black eyes wide with awe. "Never did I think this place was so amazing!"

The octopus chuckled as he lead her along, holding her wing. "That is how it is,"

He pointed to the clear blue waters. "If you are afraid to swim then you miss the beauty of the world around you."

-

Hours later he returned her to the beach, promising to come and swim with her again the next day.

"Be careful in the waters," She warned, afraid for her new friend's life. He only smiled and waved as the tide took him out.

"Do not fear, as I have said. We must swim through life, my little penguin, needless the sharks. Or else we be left on the beach."