Dash and the Muddy Bend
1Dash was a young kingfisher with a shaggy blue crest. He lived beside a clear creek with his big sister, Willa, and their papa. Every morning, Papa showed them how to fish. He perched on a low willow branch, watched the water, and dove straight down to grab a minnow.
2One morning, Willa caught her very first fish. "Well done!" Papa cheered. Dash's feathers puffed up. He had tried all week and caught nothing. "It's not fair," he grumbled. "I'll catch a bigger fish than Willa's, and I'll do it all by myself."
3Without telling anyone, Dash flew downstream to Muddy Bend. Papa had warned them not to fish there, but Dash wanted a spot where no one could watch him. He dove again and again, but he came up with only brown water. The water was so cloudy that he could not see a single fish.
4By late afternoon, Dash was tired, wet, and hungry. Then Willa landed on the branch beside him with a small fish in her beak. "Papa and I have been looking everywhere for you," she said. She set the fish down next to him. "I saved this for you."
5Dash looked down at his feet. "I flew away because I was jealous of you," he said quietly. "I'm sorry." Willa fluffed her feathers. "Come back to the clear water," she said. "We can practice together."
6The next morning, Dash sat beside Willa on the willow branch. He watched the water closely, just like Papa did. When a silver flash moved below, he dove. Dash rose with a fish in his beak, flew to Willa, and dropped it at her feet. "This one is for you," he said with a grin.