THE MERMAID RESCUE(jo) THE MERMAID RESCUE

Every summer Cookie’s science teacher picks a few students from her class and invites them to join her on a science fun in the summer sea research boat trip. This year Ms. Duck asked Cookie and her friends to sail with her aboard the Big Gulper, big enough to use as a research lab and a cruise ship.

Tommy the tiger cub dove underneath the ocean and pinched the back of Daisy the penguin’s leg. Swim for your lives! It’s the attack of the crab monster! He yelled, once he came up for air.

Grow up you jerk! That wasn’t funny! Daisy yelled angrily, before splashing water in his direction.

That’s enough you two! Ms. Duck cried out. okay kids I want you all back on the boat in the next 15 minutes. And remember always swim with your swimming buddy and whatever you do don’t swim around the coral reefs. They‘re too dangerous.

Yes Ms. Duck, Cookie and her friends cried out in unison.

Hey Sammy! Let’s go check out that school of pup fish! Tommy yelled over to him, before swimming off after them.

Yah in second! Sammy the turtle yelled back. But before Sammy had a chance to catch up with Tommy the school of fish swam away in a different direction. Tommy was returning back to the boat when his paw brushed against something. He tried to shake it off but he only got it more tangled and it started to pull Tommy underneath the water.

Tommy are you alright!? Ms. Duck asked. we heard you yelling and the next thing I knew you disappeared underneath the water.

Something grabbed my paw and kept pulling me under. I think it was some kind of sea monster! He cried out.

Oh Tommy, you and your wild imagination. your paw probably just got tangled up on a piece of sea weed, Ms. Duck laughed.

But—

There’s no such thing as a sea monster you big dork! Daisy cut him off.

That’s enough Daisy. Sammy why don’t you help Tommy take off his wet suit, Ms. Duck instructed.

The minute Tommy went to stand up his foot felt like it was on fire.
Owww! My foot! It’s on fire! He began to yell.

Ms. Duck bent down and looked at Tommy’s foot. Oh my! It looks like you might’ve brushed it against some hot corals veins. That’s what probably dragged you under she told him.

Hot corals? Tommy frowned. but the sea monster...

Oh please Tommy, for the last time there’s no such thing as any sea monster! Daisy cried out.

Okay kids, I don’t want to hear any more talk about any sea monster. Just please be careful where you swim to from now on. Now why don’t I go see what Mr. Star is making for lunch, and Tommy try to stay off that paw for a while and if it gets any worse please let me know, Ms. Duck added, before heading towards the kitchen gallery.

After lunch Cookie and her friends went down below to where the research lab is.

Hey what does this do? Sammy asked before he pressed a round button that was in front of him. A loud horn blasted inside the room.

Well Sammy it looks like it makes that annoying horn go off, Mr. Shaklee, who was Ms. Duck's assistant, laughed.

But what does it really do? Sammy asked.

It’s supposed to open the sewer vault and let the dirt water out of our tanks. But it’s not working very well and we don’t have enough money to fix it Mr. Shaklee explained.

Why not? Doesn’t the school give enough money to fix stuff like that? Vicky the dragonfly asked.

They’re supposed to, but our research fund is running extremely low, he answered.

Oh wow! You mean this could be the one of the last of Ms. Duck’s trips? Cookie asked.

Hopefully not, but there’s no need for you kids to worry, I’m sure that Ms. Duck will find a way. Now who wants to help me feed Snapper, Mr. Shaklee laughed, handing out some fish nets. Cookie can you do me a favor and grab some more fish nets in the next room please? he added.

Cookie quickly put a bunch of small nets inside her pocket. she was about to head back when she noticed a well-dressed pig holding a black brief case heading towards Ms. Duck’s cabin. I wonder how he got on board and what he wants, she thought to herself as she slowly crept towards the cabin door and pressed her ear against it.

I don’t care how you do it! But just do it as quickly as possible and find me that mermaid! He was yelling.

I’m sorry, Mr. Haystack, but I’m a scientist who respects the ocean and all that lives in it. Not a circus trainer. besides, what makes you actually believe there’s any mermaids anywhere near here?

We’ve heard the stories from the locals in the town who have claimed to even seen them, Mr. Hay stack shrugged.

I see, and what do you plan to do once you‘ve captured this so called mermaid? Ms. Duck asked.

We plan on placing her in a very special tank. she won’t even know she’s captured. And once she‘s captured scientists like yourself will be free to
come and study all you like. And of course if you do actually catch her you’ll be paid very handsomely for all your efforts, he answered.

Well as long as she’s not harmed in any way and when your studies are through you promise to return her back to the ocean, and not keep her or any of them for public attraction, I believe you’ve a deal, Mr. Haystack. If there really is a mermaid swimming out there then me and my crew will help you find her.

Excellent! I knew that I came to the right place for the job. I’ll return in a couple of days to see how the search is going. And please, no one must know about this until we have her, understood? And before Ms. Duck could answer him Cookie lost her balance and tumbled into the room.

Umm how’s everyone doing? She smiled.

What’s the meaning of this! Mr. Haystack cried.

Ms. Duck patted Cookie on top of her head and smiled back. Oh don’t worry about Cooks here, you can trust her with your little secret, isn’t that right Cookie?

Cookie raised up her right paw in the air and answered, I promise not to utter a word.

Oh wow! I can’t wait until the others hear about this, she added silently to herself, they‘re never going to believe it.

Whoa! You’re kidding, right? Ms. D is really going to hunt down a real mermaid!? Tommy cried out.

Looks like it, now remember you guys, not a word to the others. this is supposed to be a secret, Cookie answered him.

The next morning the gang got up super early.

I don’t know about this, maybe we should just go back, Sammy told them after they swam round the area looking for any signs of any sort of mermaids for a few hours.

Sammy don’t move, don’t even breath, Tommy muttered over to him.

Huh? Why? Then he spotted it, a shark fin ripping through the water heading right towards them. Oh great! I knew it! I told you guys this was a bad idea.

Okay, just remember what Ms. Duck said and maybe they’ll just go away, Daisy added.

Vicky was going to answer her when a strange noise caught her off guard.
Hey look!

They all turned and noticed a green fin coming out of the water and it smacked the shark right on top of his nose. And after a few minutes of fighting with the shark, it swam away in a different direction.

Oh wow! It’s really true, there’s a mermaid in these waters, and she just saved our lives! Tommy cried out.

The next thing they knew a big net was thrown over them and they were being lifted in the air.

Oh my god kids, you found her! I can’t believe it, but you actually found a real alive mermaid! Ms. Duck cried out happily.

That’s wonderful! now can you get us out of here! Tommy frowned.

Mr. Shaklee gently reached his fingers through the net and touched the mermaid’s tail. She’s real, he whispered to himself.

Yah, yah, she’s real alright, and guess what, we’re all really starting to cramp up. So can one of you please get us out of here! Cookie barked.

Okay kids, point taken! Ms. Duck laughed. She opened the net and helped the gang out. Mr. Shaklee, please take the mermaid down to the holding tank. tell me kids, how on earth did you ever find her? She added.

Actually, she’s the one who found us. we’re going to let her go, right? Vicky answered.

Oh I’m sorry kids, but I can’t. we need to study her as scientists. mermaids are one of the sea creatures that we truly never knew existed, Ms. Duck explained.

Oh, so it’s not cause---- Sammy began, but was interrupted when Cookie poked him in the ribs. They silently walked down to the research lab and over towards the holding tank and watched as the mermaid sank to the bottom of the tank and buried her face in her hands.

She looks so sad. I wish we never found her, Cookie said.

Okay kids, it’s been a long day. I think we should all be hitting the hay soon, Ms. Duck told them. They all stood and watched as the mermaid’s tail gave them a sad wave good bye.

Don’t worry kids, I’ll check on her during the night, she’s going to be just fine.

That night Tommy couldn’t sleep. he kept thinking about the mermaid.
Holding her in that stupid tank ain’t right. they are not going to study her. All they are going to do is make money off of her and probably worse.
He got up from his bed and was on deck when he noticed a small boat that was pulled next to their boat. I wonder whose boat that is? He nearly jumped out of his fur when Cookie tapped him on the shoulder.

Shh, she whispered, then pointed to three dudes. one of them was holding a club in his hands. Ms. Duck was laying on the floor next to them.

Hey you! Tommy suddenly sprung up from his hiding spot and charged towards them.

Watch it kid! You don’t want to get hurt, one of them growled as he pushed Tommy out his way.

Hey stop that! Cookie growled.

Ant, will you please take care of these bratty kids, his partner ordered.

They watched in silence as they dragged the mermaid out of the holding tank and onto their boat. Soon afterwards, one by one, they were picked up and thrown inside the tank. Sammy tried to climb out of it but kept slipping down.

Hey look, Shaklee’s coming. he’ll break us out of here, Daisy told them.

But he didn’t even look at them, he just walked right passed them and asked, Where’s my money?

You’ll get it soon enough.

Mr. Shaklee looked inside the tank. Sorry kids, nothing personal, I hope you all understand, then started to walk away.

No wait! You can’t just leave us in here! Sammy yelled.

Yah Shaklee, you just can’t leave them there. Stan and I know of a much better place for these little brats! Ant laughed. He and Stan picked up the holding tank and threw it overboard.

Oh my god, we’re going to drown! Sammy cried, as the tank hit the bottom of the ocean.

Hey listen, what’s that strange noise? Daisy asked. The water suddenly became all muddy. when it cleared there was about a dozen angry mermaids all staring at them through the glass.

Oh great! We’re goners! Sammy mumbled.

No look, they’re helping us back up to the surface, Vicky answered him.

A few minutes later they were safely inside their boat.

Okay now let’s catch these jerks and get their friend back! Tommy yelled.

I wish we could, but I don’t see how we can. I'm sure they're long gone by now, Ms. Duck said.

Hey I think I know of a way that we can! Cookie leaned over the boat and said, We want to help your friend but we need you to help us find her!

One of the mermaids whispered over to the others giving them direct orders.

Do you think they understood you? Sammy asked.

I hope so Cookie shrugged.

Hey look, they’re pointing, they want us to follow them! Vicky cried out.

Maybe we should call the police and let them deal with this. I already put you kids through enough danger, Ms. Duck answered.

We don’t have time, we have to go now Tommy stated.

About twenty minutes later they found the other boat.

Okay now what? Sammy asked.

Hey look, there’s the mermaid! those idiots just tied her to the back of their boat, Vicky added.

Yah and look, the others are trying to cut her loose, Tommy began.

Hey what do you think you nosey kids are doing here! I thought we got rid of you! An angry voice yelled.

We’re here to take back what you losers stole! Cookie barked.

Finder’s keepers! So it looks like you made this trip for nothing!

Hey how did they find us? I thought we got rid of them? Ant scowled. He was about to continue when he suddenly let out a surprised cry. The other mermaids had surrounded the boat and started rocking it and they didn’t stop until it flipped over.

The next day during breakfast Mr. Haystack boarded the boat.

Congrats, I heard that you captured my mermaid. I’m here to pick her up, he smiled.

Umm, oh, I’m so sorry, but you were misinformed. we never did find her. I’m beginning to think that they don’t even exist, Ms. Duck shrugged.

But...

No butts, Mr. Haystack, I think that you’ve wasted enough of my time. Now if you excuse me, I’ve to get ready to go back to work, so kindly leave my boat and have a good day, Ms. Duck cut him off.

Once he left the gang happily cheered. Way to go Ms. Duck!

Well I think this is one discovery that’s best kept just between us, she laughed. And before the gang could answer her the water rippled as if it were to say thank you.


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