3. The Rock Pool

Curly stares into the rock pool.
She can see lots of seaweed and shells.
She wonders if a shell is talking to her.
"Hello shells," she says, "Can you hear me."

"You are silly," says the voice, "Shells can't talk."

"Well, who are you then?" asks Curly. "Where are you?"

"I'm here. I'm waving at you. Can't you see me?"

Curly looks more closely into the pool and then she sees who is talking to her. Hiding in some seaweed is a crab.
"Oh, you're a crab."

"Of course I'm a crab. Now, are you going to help me?"

"What do you want me to do?" Curly asks.

"Tell me where the sea is," says the crab.

Curly looks towards the sea and says, "The sea is over there."

"It shouldn't be over there," says the crab. "It should be over here by now. The tide should be in."

Curly looks puzzled. "Are you sure?" she asks.

"Of course I'm sure!" shouts the crab. "Someone must be stealing the sea! If you want to be helpful, you can go and find the thief."

"Find the thief? I'm not sure how I can do that, but I'll ask my friend if he wants to help."

"Good," says the crab, "but be quick before this pool dries up."