The very tiny shrimp

Deep on the ocean floor life is not too different from our own life on the land. There is a wide variety of fish, mammals and other forms including flowers and plants. Life goes on under the water and for most of us on the land we hardly ever think about it. Although sometimes we do when we are at the seaside or on a boat and when we are eating fish or their ‘fingers’.

So I would like to tell you about one little creature that lives on the seabed. His name is Roland and he is a very tiny shrimp.

Shrimps by nature are small. Smaller than the prawns, king prawns, langoustine and definitely much smaller than the lobsters. So let’s get this straight so we all understand, shrimps are the smallest and Roland was the smallest shrimp of all.

Now, much like life on land, those that are unusual can often be picked upon so Roland, being the smallest of the crustacean genus, was a constant attraction for humour and cruelty. Some of it hurt him so much it made him feel sick.

One day a large underwater earthquake trembled the seabed sending rocks, stones and sand up into the water. As the bed settled again much of the sea life found themselves in a completely changed terrain.

For Petula the Lobster life had taken a dramatic turn. A rock, falling from the waves had trapped her tail. Now Petula was one of the most vicious tongued of the lobsters and had been consistently mean to Roland.

As she screamed in pain all the other fish and sealife just swam or scuttled by. Her pleas for help fell on deaf gills. As she cried, her salty tears mixing with the water, Roland came around the corner and saw her.

As he moved towards her Petula knew that he was her last hope for help. As she looked down on this tiny little shrimp she remembered how horrible she had been to him. Yet here he was, the only one to answer her screams. She felt terrible in her heart and was now crying for another reason.

As Roland got nearer Petula spoke. “Roland, Roland, can you ever forgive me for all the horrible things I have said and done to you?”

“No,” said Roland walking by.