Today felt different in the backyard. The sun seemed extra sparkly on the grass, and the flowers smelled sweeter. Scarlett, a super smart two-year-old, knew something exciting was about to happen. Her furry friend, Yuna, a magical and mysterious cat, twitched her whiskers, sensing it too.
“Yuna,” Scarlett whispered, “Do you think mermaids like to play sports?”
Yuna purred, her favorite sound in the whole world was Scarlett’s voice. Scarlett loved ballet and cats, but today, she was curious about mermaids and sports! Sports were so much fun! Scarlett clapped her hands, thinking about all the games she could play. Sports made her feel strong and happy, and she wondered if mermaids felt the same way.
Suddenly, a sparkling light caught Scarlett’s eye. It was coming from behind the big oak tree, where she and Yuna liked to play pretend. Tiptoeing towards the light, Scarlett gasped! There, sitting on a swing, was a beautiful mermaid! She had long, flowing hair and a shimmering tail, just like in Scarlett's storybooks.
“Hello!” Scarlett said, her big eyes wide with wonder.
The mermaid smiled. “Hi! I'm Coral. I came from the ocean to learn about sports!”
“You did?” Scarlett was so excited! “I love sports! They make you strong and happy!”
Coral sighed. “I know! I see children playing on the beach, and they look like they’re having so much fun! But it's hard to play with a tail."
Scarlett tapped her chin thoughtfully. “We need to find a sport you can play with your tail!” she declared. “Hmmm… how about swinging? You can use your tail to push off the ground!”
Coral’s eyes lit up. “That’s a great idea!”
Scarlett pushed Coral on the swing, higher and higher. Coral giggled, her tail swaying back and forth. Even Yuna, who usually preferred napping in sunbeams, watched with interest.
But as the sun began to set, Coral grew sad. “I have to go back to the ocean now,” she said. “But I wish I could keep playing!”
Scarlett hugged Coral goodbye. “Don’t worry! We’ll find more sports you can play!”
As Coral swam away, Scarlett had an idea. She raced back to her secret hideout, the library! Yuna followed, her bell jingling softly. Scarlett knew just the book – a big one about sports from all over the world!
That night, Scarlett dreamed of mermaids playing basketball, swimming races, and even doing cartwheels underwater! She knew that even though Coral lived in the ocean, they could still find ways to have fun and play together. After all, friendship and imagination were the most magical superpowers of all.
