Liam loved dinosaurs! He had a big, red dinosaur that he roared with. "Grrrr!" Liam stomped his feet just like his dinosaur. "Grandpa, do you want to play?" Liam asked.
Grandpa was looking at a map. He loved maps and pirates! "Ahoy, matey!" Grandpa said. "Let's go to the street market! I hear they have the best pirate hats!"
Liam wasn't so sure about pirate hats. He wanted to play dinosaurs. But Grandpa was already putting on his shoes. "Come on, Liam! It will be an adventure!"
So, Liam and Grandpa walked to the street market. It was so colorful! There were fruits and veggies of every color. Liam saw a big, red apple that looked like a dinosaur egg!
"Grandpa, look!" Liam shouted. "A dinosaur egg!"
Grandpa laughed. "That's an apple, Liam. But maybe we can find a dinosaur toy here!"
They walked past stalls selling clothes, jewelry, and even musical instruments. Then, Liam heard singing. It was beautiful! Like a bird, but different.
"Do you hear that, Grandpa?" Liam whispered.
"It's beautiful," Grandpa said, following the sound.
They stopped at a stall with a small pool of water. And in the pool, there she was! A real mermaid! She had long, flowing hair and a sparkly tail.
"Wow!" Liam whispered.
The mermaid smiled. "Hello! I'm Coral. Are you here to play?"
Liam was confused. Mermaids play? "But…how do you play?" he asked.
"We sing and dance!" Coral said. "It's how we have fun and learn."
Liam thought about it. Playing was important! He played with his dinosaurs, and Coral played by singing and dancing!
"I want to play too!" Liam said.
Coral clapped her hands. "Wonderful! What's your favorite song?"
Liam didn't know any mermaid songs. But he knew a song about a dinosaur! He sang it in his loudest voice, stomping his feet and roaring like the dinosaur in the song.
Grandpa started singing along, doing a funny dance. Even Coral was laughing!
When Liam finished, he was out of breath but very happy. Playing with a mermaid was the best!
"That was wonderful!" Coral said. "You are a very good player, Liam!"
Liam beamed. He learned that playing could be different for everyone! And that even mermaids loved to have fun!
Grandpa bought Liam a bright red apple, his "dinosaur egg," and a little toy mermaid for Coral. They said goodbye to Coral and walked back home.
Liam held his grandpa's hand, his dinosaur egg in one hand and his new toy mermaid in the other. "Thanks for taking me to the market, Grandpa," Liam said. "That was the best adventure!"
Grandpa smiled. "Anytime, Liam. Anytime."
