ONE IN A MILLION
A Seahorse Story
Sandy came from a humongous family. He had a million brothers and sisters! When you come from a family that big, it’s hard to get special attention and believe me, Sandy had tried.
But his mom and dad and brothers and sisters never noticed. They were always too busy staying safe, hiding in the seaweed, and eating.
Sandy wanted more from life than that. Above all, he wanted them to see that he was special.
“I’m going away to do something amazing." Sandy said. "Then you’ll see how special I am.”
His brothers and sisters didn’t understand. “Stay with us and eat and be safe” they said.
But Sandy swam away. "Adios, bon voyage and arrivederci" he said.
At the coral reef he met Mrs. Clam. “Your cousins are in trouble.” said Mrs. Clam “The fishermen caught them in their nets. Quick, swim away and be safe!”
But Sandy had a different idea. “I’m not afraid” said Sandy and he puffed up his chest to show off his courage.
He went to his cousins and cut a hole in the fishing net. It was a daring rescue.
Now they'll all see how special I am. Sandy thought.
Sandy's cousins invited him to stay and eat. They had a big feast in his honor but the next day it was life as usual, and the next, and the next, and the next…
“I’m going away to do something amazing." Sandy said "Then you’ll see how special I am."
His cousins didn’t understand. “Stay with us and eat and be safe” they said.
But Sandy swam away. "Adios, bon voyage, and arrivederci" he said.
Past the reef and beyond the cove, he saw a sunken pirate ship. He wanted to go there but a gang of giggly seahorse girls told him it was haunted. "Quick, swim away and be safe!"
But Sandy had a different idea. “I’m not afraid” said Sandy, and puffed up his chest to show off his courage. "Adios, bon voyage, and arrivederci" he said.
He swam to the ship and turned to wave at them but they were gone.
There weren’t any ghosts in the pirate ship but Sandy found something even better – a treasure chest full of jewels. He put the crown on his head. “Now I’m the king! I’m the richest seahorse in all the oceans of the world. He dressed himself in jewels and paraded himself before the ancient cracked mirror. “Now everyone will see how special I am.”
But that night he was alone and lonely. He missed his million brothers and sisters, and his mom and dad. He missed his multimillion cousins. He even missed the giggly girls.
The next morning Sandy looked at his reflection in the mirror. He puffed up his chest to show off his courage, but he didn't feel very courageous. He didn't feel special either. "I'm lonely" he said to himself. "I'm going home because home is amazing."
And Sandy swam away. "Adios, bon voyage, and arrivederci" he said to the mirror.
He swam home as fast as his fins could take him. “I’m home!” he shouted.
And his family crowded around, welcoming him. “We missed you so much.”
"I missed you more." Sandy said.
They entwined tails and gave him their biggest hugs.
“But I thought you didn’t care” said Sandy “You didn’t think I was special.”
“Of course you’re special." said Dad.
"You didn't think I was amazing." said Sandy.
“Of course you're amazing." said Mom. "You don’t have to do amazing things to be special to us. We love you just because you’re you.”
“Really?” Sandy asked with a big smile.
And all his brothers and sisters and cousins said yes. Sandy was very happy because he knew he was loved and that's what really mattered.
The giggly girls, wearing jewels from the treasure chest, put the crown back on Sandy’s head.
