In a quiet fishing village by the sea, a little boy sat at the table with his grandma.
Grandma reached for her treasured pearl — and it slipped right through her fingers.
It bounced once, twice — then SPLASH! — straight into the bay.
The boy dropped his ice cream and dove headfirst off the rocks into the cold blue water.
Underwater, he kicked deeper. Kelp tickled his nose and sand puffed up around him as he searched.
A shadow zipped past and vanished behind a big rock. He scrambled after it — but it was blocked!
He blew four bubbles, then five, then six. Time to turn back.
Then — a small golden fish swam into view. It bobbed its head toward the rock, as if saying: Follow me.
He followed the little fish and saw it — the pearl, glowing softly in a shallow crevice.
The boy burst through the surface, the pearl clutched tight to his chest.
He stumbled up the pebbled beach, teeth chattering, and fell at his grandma's feet.
She opened her eyes, saw the pearl, and pulled him close. 'Just in time,' she whispered. He rested his head on her shoulder and smiled.