"Jacob, why do we have to brush our teeth?" Olivia asked, her nose wrinkled as she squeezed toothpaste onto her brush.
Jacob, her happy-go-lucky dog, wagged his tail enthusiastically, his tongue lolling out. "Woof!" he barked, which Olivia knew meant something along the lines of, "Because treats taste better with clean teeth!"
Olivia giggled. Jacob was obsessed with food! But her question still lingered. She knew brushing was important, but it wasn't nearly as fun as building fairy houses in her secret forest hideout.
Suddenly, a postcard fluttered out from under Jacob’s bed. It showed a beautiful beach with sparkling blue water and palm trees swaying in the breeze. “What's this?” Olivia gasped.
“Woof! Woof!” Jacob barked excitedly, nudging the postcard with his nose.
“You want to go to the beach?” Olivia asked, her eyes wide with excitement. Jacob barked and wagged his tail so hard his whole body wiggled.
Olivia knew it was a long shot, but she raced to ask her parents. To her surprise, they said yes! They packed their bags, bundled Jacob into the car, and before she knew it, Olivia was feeling the warm sand between her toes.
The beach was even more amazing in person! The air smelled salty and sweet, and the waves crashed against the shore with a gentle roar. Olivia and Jacob spent the afternoon building sandcastles and chasing seagulls.
As the sun began to set, Olivia noticed something shimmering in the shallow water. It looked like… a giant, sparkling toothbrush! Curiosity bubbling inside her, she cautiously approached it.
That's when she saw her.
A beautiful mermaid with long flowing hair and a shimmering tail sat on a rock, her head in her hands. But something was wrong. The mermaid looked sad.
"Excuse me," Olivia said softly. "Are you okay?"
The mermaid looked up, startled. "A human! You can see me?"
Olivia nodded. "My name is Olivia. Can I help you with something?"
The mermaid sighed. "My name is Coral, and I've lost my smile!"
Olivia gasped. "Lost your smile? How do you lose a smile?"
Coral pointed to the giant toothbrush. "I need to brush my teeth with this special seaweed paste, but it’s lost its magic! Without it, my smile fades, and I can't sing anymore."
Olivia remembered what her parents always told her. Brushing your teeth is important for a healthy and happy smile!
“Don’t worry, Coral! I know just what to do!” Olivia declared. “Jacob, we need to find something that can help Coral brush her teeth!”
Jacob, who had been happily digging in the sand, perked up at the sound of his name. He sniffed the air, then darted off towards a cluster of rocks.
Olivia followed close behind, her heart pounding with excitement. Could they really help the mermaid get her smile back?
Jacob stopped in front of a small cave, barking excitedly. Olivia peeked inside and gasped. There, nestled amongst the rocks, were dozens of colorful seashells. Some were smooth and shiny, while others were rough and bumpy.
Olivia picked up a smooth, pearly shell. It was the perfect size and shape for brushing! She showed it to Coral. "Do you think this would work?”
Coral's eyes widened. “It’s…perfect!”
Using the shell and some fresh seaweed paste Olivia helped gather, Coral brushed her teeth carefully, just like Olivia did every morning and night. As she brushed, the magical paste started to foam and sparkle.
Suddenly, Coral’s face lit up in a radiant smile. It was so bright, it shimmered like a thousand seashells!
“My smile! It’s back!” Coral exclaimed, her voice filled with joy. She took a deep breath and began to sing. Her voice was beautiful, like the tinkling of bells mixed with the gentle sound of the waves.
Olivia and Jacob cheered. They had helped the mermaid get her smile back! As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in vibrant hues of orange and pink, Coral thanked Olivia and Jacob.
“You’ve reminded me how important it is to take care of my smile," Coral said. "Brushing my teeth isn't just about magic; it's about staying healthy and happy!"
From then on, Olivia never complained about brushing her teeth again. She knew that even though she couldn't see them, somewhere out there, a beautiful mermaid was smiling because of her.
