Otto The Otter's Favorite Story
Otto the otter was born in a hole in the riverbank. It was not
just any kind of hole that happened to be there, but a fine
made-on-purpose hole that Father and Mother Otter had dug themselves. It
was high enough above the water so that it was warm and dry, but the
doorway was at the end of a long tunnel and opened right into the river.
That underwater doorway worried Otto. How could he get out of an underwater doorway unless he knew how to swim? But how could he learn to swim if he stayed home? Whenever he asked his mother about it, she said, "Wait and see." But one day she said something different. She said, "You're old enough now to find out. Climb on my back, and whatever happens, don't let go."
Otto climbed on his mother's back, and off she went down the tunnel. She went so fast that Otto didn't have time to think. One minute he was in the tunnel and the next he was in the water. And the next he was out of the water and up on top of the riverbank.
There was a warm brightness roundabout that made him feel good. "That is sunshine," explained his mother. Young Otto liked sunshine, but what he really wanted was to learn to swim, and he said so.
"Wait a bit," said his mother. "Watch your father and me till you see how it's done. You weren't born knowing how to swim, even if you were born wanting to know."
Father Otter came just then and began playing with his son. Otto thought that was great fun and never guessed that Father was testing the baby muscles to see if they were strong and healthy.
"Now watch me," said Father, "and you'll see some fun."
He went over to a place on the bank that was as slick as wet fish. It was slick because Father and Mother had been sliding on it with their slick wet bodies. He tucked his front feet beneath his tummy, gave a push with his hind feet, and -- whee-ee -- down the slippery slick slide he went lickety-cut.
He was back up on the bank again in no time. Then it was Mother Otter's turn. She tucked her front feet beneath her tummy, gave a push with her hind feet, and -- whee-ee -- down the slippery slick slide she went lickety-cut.
Otto thought that looked like even more fun than swimming. He edged closer and closer to the slide so that he could see exactly how it was done. He got closer and closer - and he put just one foot on one corner of that slippery slick slide, just to see how it felt. And then --whoosh! His feet shot out from under him and he turned a flip-flop in the air and came down on the slickest part of that slippery slick slide. Down he went into the water --kersplash!
That underwater doorway worried Otto. How could he get out of an underwater doorway unless he knew how to swim? But how could he learn to swim if he stayed home? Whenever he asked his mother about it, she said, "Wait and see." But one day she said something different. She said, "You're old enough now to find out. Climb on my back, and whatever happens, don't let go."
Otto climbed on his mother's back, and off she went down the tunnel. She went so fast that Otto didn't have time to think. One minute he was in the tunnel and the next he was in the water. And the next he was out of the water and up on top of the riverbank.
There was a warm brightness roundabout that made him feel good. "That is sunshine," explained his mother. Young Otto liked sunshine, but what he really wanted was to learn to swim, and he said so.
"Wait a bit," said his mother. "Watch your father and me till you see how it's done. You weren't born knowing how to swim, even if you were born wanting to know."
Father Otter came just then and began playing with his son. Otto thought that was great fun and never guessed that Father was testing the baby muscles to see if they were strong and healthy.
"Now watch me," said Father, "and you'll see some fun."
He went over to a place on the bank that was as slick as wet fish. It was slick because Father and Mother had been sliding on it with their slick wet bodies. He tucked his front feet beneath his tummy, gave a push with his hind feet, and -- whee-ee -- down the slippery slick slide he went lickety-cut.
He was back up on the bank again in no time. Then it was Mother Otter's turn. She tucked her front feet beneath her tummy, gave a push with her hind feet, and -- whee-ee -- down the slippery slick slide she went lickety-cut.
Otto thought that looked like even more fun than swimming. He edged closer and closer to the slide so that he could see exactly how it was done. He got closer and closer - and he put just one foot on one corner of that slippery slick slide, just to see how it felt. And then --whoosh! His feet shot out from under him and he turned a flip-flop in the air and came down on the slickest part of that slippery slick slide. Down he went into the water --kersplash!
Quick as a flash Mother Otter was beside him, no, beneath him.
She came up under him and had him safe on her back before he could say
gulp.
When she was sure he was all right, she said, "Now that you're in
the water, you might as well learn to swim. Kick your feet now. One,
two, three, four. One, two, three, four. That's it. I'll be right here
to hold you up."
Little Otto struck out bravely. One, two, three, four. He wasn't
the least bit afraid, because he was sure that his mother was holding
him up. But clever Mrs. Otter had other plans. She kept sinking lower
and lower into the water. Soon she wasn't holding him up at all. He was
really swimming by himself, and he didn't know it!
At last Mother Otter turned quickly and came up to the surface
beside Otto. He was so surprised to see her that he almost stopped
swimming.
"Keep kicking," cautioned his mother. "One, two, three, four."
She sounded so encouraging that Otto began kicking with all his
might, his feet churning the water like four little paddles.
Just then Father Otter came along.
"Look, Father, I'm swimming all by myself," Otto cried. I'm going to go swimming every day of my life."
And so he did. He became one of the best swimmers on the river, and one of the best fishermen, too.
A river otter named Buddy is rescued.
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