Otter and the Quiet Tide

Little Lottie the otter floated on her back on the calm, calm sea. The water was warm and soft beneath her. She held her round tummy and smiled up at the sky. All around her, the ocean rocked her slow. Hush now, hush now, said the little waves.

A tiny shell floated by, smooth and pink. Lottie scooped it up with her small paws. "Oh, hello," she giggled softly. She set it on her tummy, like a little boat. Then another shell bobbed close. She picked that one up too.

Lottie paddled along, slow and easy. She found a shell as white as the moon. She found a shell as gray as a cloud. Each one she set upon her tummy, one by one. Soon she had a whole sleepy little pile.

But the gentle waves rocked her this way and that. One little shell rolled off and splashed away. "Oops," Lottie whispered, and she laughed a small laugh. The shell sank down, soft and slow, to the sandy floor. "Goodnight, little shell," she said. And she did not mind at all.

A friend swam near. It was Bear, floating slow on his back too. "You found pretty shells," Bear said in a low, warm voice. "I did," said Lottie, smiling. She gave him the pink one to hold. They floated side by side on the wide, calm water.

The sun slipped low and turned the sea to gold. The waves grew small. The waves grew soft. Lottie yawned a big, slow yawn. Bear yawned too. The warm water held them both, gentle as a hand.

"I am sleepy now," Lottie murmured. "Me too," said Bear, very quietly. They let the little shells rest on their tummies. The tide rocked them slow. The tide rocked them slow.

The sky turned soft and dim and blue. One star peeked out, then two, then more. The ocean was a quiet, dark blanket now. Lottie's eyes grew heavy. Her paws went still.

The waves whispered, hush now, hush now. The water was warm. The water was soft. Lottie floated, safe and slow. Far away, a tiny shell glowed like the moon.

Lottie breathed in. Lottie breathed out. The sea breathed with her, slow and deep. Bear was already dreaming close beside her.

Hush now, little Lottie. The tide will hold you all night long. Goodnight, sweet otter. Goodnight, quiet sea. Goodnight.