What if mermaids had homework too? Olivia skipped down the sidewalk, her backpack bouncing. It was Friday, and Mom had promised a trip to the playground after Olivia finished her homework.
"But what kind of homework would a mermaid have?" Olivia wondered aloud.
Mom, pushing Olivia's baby brother in the stroller, chuckled. "Maybe they have to count all the seashells on the ocean floor!"
Olivia giggled. "Or maybe they have to learn all the fish names!"
They reached the playground, a burst of color with swings, slides, and a giant, twisty climber. Olivia ran to the swings, her pigtails flying.
"Homework first!" Mom called with a smile.
Olivia sighed dramatically. She much preferred swinging to addition problems. She pulled out her workbook and started.
"Excuse me," a tiny voice said.
Olivia looked around. Perched on the edge of the sandbox was a little girl with shimmering blue skin and a long, sparkly tail. Her hair was a cascade of seaweed and shells.
Olivia gasped. "Are you... a mermaid?"
The little mermaid giggled, a sound like tinkling seashells. "I am! I'm Coral. And I need your help!"
Olivia's eyes widened. This was even better than imagining mermaid homework! "What's wrong?"
"See, it's the annual Sea Star Speech," Coral said, her face clouding over. "All us young mermaids have to give a speech to the whole ocean!"
"Wow!" Olivia said. "What's your speech about?"
Coral sighed. "The problem is, I can't decide! I could talk about the importance of keeping the ocean clean, or maybe about all the funny fish I know!"
Olivia tapped her chin. This sounded a lot like her own homework struggles.
"I know!" Olivia said. "Let's pretend I'm your ocean audience! You practice both speeches on me, and we'll see which one you like best!"
Coral's face brightened. "That's a wonderful idea!"
And so, right there in the middle of the playground, Coral the mermaid practiced her speeches. She told Olivia all about the importance of recycling and keeping plastic out of the ocean. Then, she had Olivia roaring with laughter, describing a grumpy pufferfish and a shy seahorse.
Mom, watching from a nearby bench, couldn't help but smile. Olivia had a way of making everything an adventure.
Finally, after much giggling and thoughtful discussion, Coral decided on a speech about the importance of friendship between ocean creatures.
"Thank you, Olivia!" Coral cried. "You're a wonderful friend! I know my speech will be amazing now."
Just then, a wave of shimmering bubbles swept over Coral, and when it cleared, she was gone!
Olivia sat there for a moment, the playground seeming a little less colorful. Then, she grabbed her workbook. Helping Coral had given her a great idea for her own homework assignment – she would write a story about a mermaid who gave a speech!
That evening, Olivia snuggled next to Mom on the sofa, her story finished and tucked safely in her backpack.
"You know," Olivia said, swinging her legs, "I think I like homework a little bit more now."
Mom gave her a warm hug. "Sometimes," she said, "homework can be its own kind of adventure."
