Phoebe was colouring in her book, taking care to get the picture just right. She held her fantastically perfectly pencilled artwork up high. As she did, she could see Mr.Goldfish and Mrs. Kranky Crab chatting away, as though they weren’t just marks on paper. Giggling excitedly, she ran into the kitchen to show her grandmother her art.

“Nanna, nanna, see what I did! Mr.Goldfish and Mrs Crab are at it again!”

“Let me see dear,” Nanna replied.

Nanna was a kind elderly woman, with fluffed up blonde hair and steadying herself with her favourite walking stick. She was always smiling and made the best cakes in the world.

“Fantastic. Stupendous, you are a talent, dear. But I must say it is time. To the, say it with me-“

“Aq-ua-ri-um” at the same time.

“Where fisheys live!”

In they went to the HUGE aquarium, Phoebe hopping along as she looked around. Goldfish, crabs, rainbow fish, sharks (Phoebe stepped back a little as a Hammerhead gently touched the glass with his nose). Every aquatic creature she read about, now she could see for real.

The morning was turning from good to great. Phoebe held a starfish for the first time, fed a seal and said “how do you do” to a flock of little penguins. It was perfect, until Jasper tapped her on the shoulder.

“ Nanna, why is he here?”

“He gets to tag along too. Be fair, dear. His mommy Edna is over there. Why don’t you catch up with him while I talk to her?”

As she waddled over to Edna, Phoebe sucked on her lollipop staring at Jasper as he stared back. Then he said: “ Sorry I stole your lunchbox in class. I was mean.”

“ That’s ok, Jasper. Look at that sharkie, he looks meaner.”

They both pressed their faces against the glass, mouths open as the shark swam, gliding like a graceful angel (with teeth!) over the ceiling section. Jasper tapped her with something.

“Lunchbox, Phoebe.”

“Thanks. Let’s go over there.”

They headed back to the rockpool, where the marvellous weird wacky starfish were. Jasper slipped backwards, but Phoebe caught him, as they both fell over.

“Now I’m wet, Jasper! What will nanna say?”

“She’s behind you with mommy.”

Both Edna and Nanna hugged their children, telling them off for nearly hurting themselves. Jasper cried but Phoebe just looked innocently at Nanna. As they left and said their “ Goodbyes”, “After yous” and “ we had fun”,

Jasper and Phoebe stood with hands behind their backs.

“ We’re friends now, Nanna, like Mr. Goldfish and Mr Kranky Crab.”

Nanna chuckled.

“ Yes, dear. And I’m like Old Sage Turtle. Let’s go home and colour him in.”

And as they drove off, Phoebe could see the goldfish and crab standing next to each other, newly married.