Under the Sea Pt. 1

 Under the Sea 

Pt. 1

The sun shone through the water, another day had begun.

Mr. Nibbles was swimming in the ocean, “Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming” He hummed the song from the famous cartoon, Finding Nemo. Mr. Nibbles is a salmon. He and his family live in the Atlantic Ocean. Every autumn, they return to their hometown, Lake Michigan. Mr. Nibbles was told as a boy that his family was known for going back to their birthplace when the time is right. 

“Good morning, Mr. Nibbles!” Clownfish sprang out of Anemone. Anemone waved her tentacles. “I haven’t seen you in a long time!” said Anemone to Mr. Nibbles. The three friends swam their way across and arrived at Mr. Nibbles’ house. 

Mr. Nibbles’ mother was out, finding food for the family. Recently, there had been a food shortage, so Mrs. Nibbles had to go out for food every day. Mr. Nibbles invited his friends in, and they had lots of fun inside. The day went by in a flash. 

It was nighttime already. Mr. Nibbles was waiting for his mother to find food and his father to return from work. His father works in the Ministry of Environment, and his father was the head of the anti-overfishing committee. Thousands of fish have been disappearing every day, and the sea was getting more and more polluted. Mr. Nibbles’ mommy had reminded Mr. Nibbles a thousand times not to get caught and be careful when swimming in the ocean. 

Dad was back. 

“Where’s Mom?” he asked. 

Mr. Nibbles had no idea. “I thought she’d be coming back with you!” said Mr. Nibbles. Apparently, she didn’t. Mr. Nibbles and his father grew nervous as time passed by. 

“Tap, tap, tap,” someone was fin-knocking on their door. Mr. Nibbles opened the door. There was Mr. Bubbles, the messenger in their community. Mr. Bubbles was looking really sad and urgent. “Mr. Nibbles, I have some bad news. Your mother was captured by fishermen, and… and we don’t know where she is.”

Mr. Nibbles was speechless.

He had never thought about any of his family members being caught in those nasty fishing nets. A thought occurred through Mr. Nibbles’ mind: is Mommy dead? Or worse, Mommy could already be cooked and eaten by the terrible, vicious humans! 

English Corner

tentacles (n.) 觸手: a slender, flexible limb or appendage in an animal

apparently (adv.) 顯然: as far as one knows or can see

speechless (adj.) 無言:  unable to speak, especially as the temporary result of shock or strong emotion