Beware the Giant Shark!

Chloe hopscotched across the cool morning sand. Scout barked as he chased a crab (the crab was winning).

Seagulls called. Seafoam shimmered. Everything felt normal—

Until Chloe saw something bobbing in the waves.

A message in a bottle.

She splashed into the surf to get a closer look.

—

Chloe opened the bottle and read:

To whomever finds this message,

I humbly beg for your help! A terrible creature has trapped me, and I fear I shall never again be free. I have enclosed a magic necklace.  It will assist whoever is courageous enough to come to my aid.

Sincerely,

Gus

“Oh no! We have to help!” Chloe scooped up Scout. She threw on the necklace. 

—

Spiral sparkles and a SPLASH!

“I'm a mermaid!” Chloe shouted.  She twirled.  “Scout, you’re a mer-dog!”  Scout yipped.

Chloe looked at the curious sea creatures who had gathered around them.

"Excuse me," Chloe asked, "does anyone know Gus? We're here to save him from a terrible creature."

The animals shook their heads.

"Nope." 

"Sorry." 

“Never heard of him.”

A damselfish thought. "I don’t know Gus, but there is only one terrible creature around here... the giant shark."

—

“BEWARE THE GIANT SHARK!”

—

Chloe narrowed her eyes.  "If the giant shark is the one keeping Gus captive, then that’s who we need to find. Where did you last see him?"

"That way!" 

"By the sunken ship!" 

"And remember..."

—

“BEWARE THE GIANT SHARK!”

Chloe and Scout swam through the reef.  They glided under the floating kelp forest. The water grew quieter and darker.  Worries bubbled up in Chloe’s mind.
What if we can’t rescue Gus? What if the shark is really dangerous?

—

They turned a corner, and there it was: the sunken ship. 

A shadow stretched beneath the ship. Was that a fin in the corner? Were those teeth, gleaming in the black?

Chloe took a deep breath. She squared her shoulders.

"Monster of the deep! I demand that you free our friend Gus!"

The shadow moved.

It was the GIANT SHARK.

Chloe screamed. She turned to escape—

—

“THANK THE TIDES! MY NOBLE RESCUERS!” The giant shark boomed in delight. 

Chloe stopped. "Huh?"

The shark beamed. "Oh, wondrous mermaid and mer-dog! I hoped my letter would find someone brave. And it has! You wear my magic necklace! You’ve come to my aid in my hour of need!"

—

“Wait a minute,” said Chloe. “You are Gus? You are trapped by a terrible creature?”

“Alas, I am afraid so,” said Gus.  “I have been captive here for an eternity in these wretched waters! See?”  He held up his tail.  It was tangled in a fishing net

Chloe’s eyes widened. "You’re not trapped by a creature. You’re trapped in something—this net!"

—

Chloe looked around. A glittering school of fish flitted in and out of the netting. A few small fish were nibbling gently along Gus’s sides.

She blinked. "Wait... what are those fish doing?"

Gus smiled. "They saw I was here and came to visit! They are wonderfully helpful at cleaning as well."

Chloe tilted her head. "But... you’re a shark. Why aren’t these fish scared of you?"

Gus looked baffled. "Why would they be scared?"

She hesitated. "Well... sharks usually eat fish. Are you going to eat us?"

Gus puffed up indignantly. "Eat you?! Never! I’m a whale shark. That means I only eat the tiniest of creatures, like krill. And I’d never eat friends."

Chloe let out a breath. Scout gave a happy bark.

"Okay," she said. "Let’s get you out."

She tugged and twisted the net. Scout helped unravel the knots.

Finally—

—

"GLORIOUS FREEDOM!" Gus loop-de-looped with joy. "Thank you, treasured friends!"

The little fish twirled around Gus’s fins one last time, then darted back towards the sunken ship.

Chloe, Scout and Gus swam together out of the darkness.  They swam towards the bright coral reef. They swam…right into the middle of the ocean creatures. “More friends!” Gus cheered.

—

“AAAAAAH! THE GIANT SHARK!” 

Panic. Pandemonium. POOF–everyone vanished.

Gus drooped. Scout gave him a lick.

Chloe swished her tail. "Stop! This is Gus! He's a whale shark. He only eats teeny-tiny things like krill. He’s kind and gentle. He’s our friend."

The ocean creatures peeked out. They studied Gus.

He gave a hopeful smile.

One by one, the animals came out.  

"Hi, Gus." 

"Nice to meet ya." 

"Wanna play?"

Until—

—

“BEFRIEND THE GIANT SHARK!”

They played all afternoon until the sun touched the waves.  And then–

—

Whirling rainbows and a WHOOSH!

Chloe and Scout were back on the beach. The warm sand was beneath their toes. The wind was in their hair.

Out at sea, a fin waved.

Chloe waved back. "We’ll never forget you, Gus! Maybe we can visit again someday!"

Far away, Gus happily splashed the water with his tail.

Chloe and Scout skipped up the beach, playing tag in the surf.