Someone once told Evelyn that if you listen closely, you can hear the ocean whisper secrets. Evelyn put her ear to Sophia’s tummy. “What do you hear, Sophia?" she giggled. Sophia, her big, fluffy dog, just wagged her tail. Evelyn thought maybe, just maybe, the secret the ocean whispered was about courage.
One sunny day, Evelyn’s mom took her to the park. It wasn’t just any park, though. This park had a surprise! Nestled between the swings and the slide, was a giant, sparkly dome.
“Wow!” Evelyn gasped.
“It’s a special dinosaur park,” her mom explained. “Dinosaurs lived a long, long time ago, but this dome lets us see them!”
Evelyn’s eyes widened. She loved the ocean, but dinosaurs? They were even bigger than the biggest whale! Evelyn took a deep breath and held her mom’s hand tight. It felt like her heart was bubbling with excitement and maybe just a little bit of nerves.
Inside the dome, everything shimmered with a warm, green light. Giant ferns brushed against Evelyn’s shoulders, and the air smelled like rain. And then, Evelyn saw it.
A dinosaur!
It was tall and green, with plates running down its back. The dinosaur munched on leaves, its long neck swaying like a tall, green tree in the wind.
Suddenly, the dinosaur let out a loud honk. It dipped its head low, its big, brown eyes filled with worry.
“What’s wrong?” Evelyn whispered.
“He lost his friend,” a park ranger explained. “He’s sad and a little scared.”
Evelyn knew what that felt like. Sometimes, when she was swimming in the ocean, she felt a little scared too. But she knew being brave wasn’t about not being scared. It was about listening to your heart, even when it felt like it was flip-flopping inside your chest.
Evelyn took another deep breath. “We have to help him!”
She thought for a moment. “Does he like bubbles? Everything likes bubbles!”
The park ranger chuckled. “I bet he does!”
Evelyn grabbed her bubble wand – she took it everywhere with her – and dipped it in the soapy water. She blew with all her might, sending a stream of shimmering bubbles floating towards the giant dinosaur.
The dinosaur tilted his head, watching the bubbles dance in the light. A slow smile spread across his face. He lowered his head and gently blew a puff of air, sending the bubbles soaring even higher. Evelyn giggled, her heart filled with joy. She had been brave, and she had made the dinosaur smile!
Later, as Evelyn walked hand-in-hand with her mom out of the park, she gave Sophia an extra big hug. “Did you see, Sophia? I was brave!” she whispered.
Sophia barked happily, her tail wagging so fast it was a blur. Evelyn knew, deep down, that being brave wasn’t just about helping dinosaurs or exploring the ocean. It was about listening to the whispers of your heart and letting them guide you, just like the ocean whispered its secrets. And that was a feeling that made her heart bubble over with happiness.
