8. Flounder and the Wagons

Flounder loved his life in Atlantica, but he still had lots to learn. You're a nice mixed-traffic fish. King Triton told him. You can take wagons and carts very easily, but you have to learn to correct your mistakes. Flounder knew what King Triton was talking about. He could remember that nasty incident when he first arrived. Careful with those wagons, Flounder! said Ray-Ray the stingray. They don't like to be bashed! Everyone arrived to see Flounder. I am a useful fish! he thought, and then dumped dust. The dust went all over King Triton's brand new crown. Just then, the whistle blew, and Flounder thought it was a good time to leave. Move it, move it! he told Ray-Ray. Stop pushing, stop pushing! Ray-Ray said. Even the wagons were complaining. Stop speeding, stop speeding! Flounder wasn't listening. They forgot to stop at the junction! So they went back to let the people out. No one knew about King Triton's crown, so Flounder felt better. They came to the juction where Ariel was waiting with her stuff. ''Hello, Flounder! Feeling OK? That's good! Oh!'' said Ariel. ''That's the whistle! I have to go!'' And she swam away. Ray-Ray and Flounder passed the yard where Flounder had his incident. Everything was back to normal. At last, they ended their adventure and had a rest. Flounder was still worried about King Triton's crown.

Next morning, King Triton spoke to Flounder. If you won't behave, I will give you red hair! Flounder did NOT like

the sound of that at all. He banged the wagons around as he pushed them near the flatform. ''Be quiet! Let's go! Scuttle never has trouble with wagons, and he's just a seagull!'' To make Flounder more angry, no one was there to see him. I'll show 'em who's boss! he said. They think Scuttle is the only one who can pull wagons! Come along, come along! said Flounder. You're speeding, you're speeding! cried the wagons. Flounder chuckled, and went faster. We're stopping! said the wagons. We're stopping! What's the matter? Flounder asked his worker. The stoppers are on. the worker said. You bashed them so hard, that it made a hole! How can we fix it? asked a man. With paper and a shoelace. replied the worker. But where will we get the shoelace from?" Ask the people. said the worker. You've got a shoelace! said a man to another man. Hand it over! 'No! Then, the load will just stay here! said the man. All the people said what a stupid ocean they lived in. Then, they told the other man how stupid HE was. Everyone was angry. At last, he gave them the shoelace. They tied it to the wagons, and Flounder 

''started all over again. But he was a smarter Flounder, who never bashed wagons again.''

by Julian Ayele Cumberbatch