The Shimmering Shell Bag

My home is deep beneath the waves, where the coral gardens glow like neon signs. Today, my parents gave me a satchel made of woven rainbow kelp and polished sea-glass. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever owned, shimmering with every color of the sunset. My sister Martha and our friend Maya swim over to see. Maya is so curious that she pokes at the glowing scales, wondering how they stay so bright under the deep blue water.

Martha reaches out, her eyes shining with hope. 'Can I hold it for just one minute, Flora? It looks so soft!' she asks. I pull the satchel closer to my chest, feeling the smooth, cool glass against my scales. I shake my head quickly. I just got it, and I am worried she might drop it into a dark trench or get sand in the lining. Martha looks a bit sad, and the water feels a little colder as I turn away from her.

Suddenly, a strong current sweeps through our playground, tossing heavy pearl-shells everywhere. We need to grab onto the sturdy Great Kelp to stay safe. I try to hold the kelp with one hand while clutching my satchel with the other, but the water is too strong. I am slipping! I look at Martha, then at my beautiful bag. If I do not trust her right now, I might lose my grip and get swept away from the safety of the reef.

I take a deep breath and hand the rainbow satchel to Martha. 'Hold this tight!' I shout over the rushing water. She grabs it carefully, tucking it under her arm while I use both hands to anchor us both to the kelp. As the current fades, I see Martha stroking the satchel gently, treating it like a precious treasure. She did not drop it, and she did not ruin it. She kept it safe for me when I could not hold it myself.

When the water is calm again, Martha hands the bag back with a giant smile. I realize that the satchel is still beautiful, but it is even better when I share my joy with the people I love. 'You can wear it on our swim home, Martha,' I say, and Maya swims circles around us, asking a dozen questions about the magical kelp weave. Sharing does not mean losing something; it means making a happy memory sparkle even brighter.