5. Ariel's Wagons

Ariel the little mermaid was complaining. I spend my life pulling wagons, getting ready for you to go on adventures! she said. The other sea creatures chuckled. I wish I could pull wagons filled with people! You're too foolish! they all said. You'd probably leave something behind. Oh trash! said Ariel. I'll show you what I can do! One night, she was alone with Marina. Marina was sick. Everyone did their best, but nothing helped. She felt even worse the next morning. Marina pulls the first load of wagons everyday. If Marina is sick, thought Ariel, maybe I should pull her wagons. Ariel ran to get the wagons. Come on, come on! she said to the wagons. We have lots of time, we have lots of time! they answered. She pulled them all near the flatform. Her worker would not let her go in front. Don't be foolish, Ariel! he said. Ariel grew excited. The people went in, two men walked around, the door closed, and

still, Marina didn't arrive. Ariel was happy. King Triton came to see what was going on, and the two men told

him all about Marina. Find someone else. he said. There's only Ariel. they said. You must do it then, Ariel! said King Triton. Hurry! So Ariel ran in front, and backed onto the wagons. Don't be foolish! said the worker. Ariel was getting more and more impatient. Nobody knows what happened next. Maybe, they forgot to attach Ariel

to the wagons, or maybe someone pulled a lever loose. Anyway, Ariel left without her wagons! As she passed by, people waved at her. But she never stopped. They're probably waving 'cause I'm a useful mermaid! she thought. ''Marina thinks pulling wagons is hard, but I KNOW it's easy! Come along, come along!'' she said, pretending to

be Scuttle. ''Nobody has ever seen me pulling wagons filled with people before. It's very nice of them for waving. And she said, Eek! Thank you very much! Then, she saw a light. Oh! she said. ''I have to stop, and I was having a wonderful time! Stupid light! She went, Eek!'' Then, the light man came. What are you doing, Ariel? he asked. ''Can't you see? I'm pulling wagons!'' she replied. Then where ARE the wagons? asked the light man. Ariel looked back. Oh, no! she said. We must have left them behind! Ariel was so upset, that she almost cried. Don't worry. said the worker. We'll go back and fetch them. Back at the junction, everyone told King Triton what a stupid ocean they lived in. But when Ariel returned, they saw the sad look''

''on her face, and they were no longer angry. She was attached to the wagons, and this time, she really pulled them. After that, the other sea creatures teased Ariel. Look! they would say. ''It's Ariel! She wished to pull wagons, but she forgot about them!'

by Julian Ayele Cumberbatch