Potter & Papa otter cross the river
One sunny day by a river so blue, Potter the Otter and Papa had some exploring to do. They walked by the water and stopped with a grin.
"Look
at those flowers!
Let's go see
them!"
Potter looked over from sho
The rive than eve
His smil
His ears
"What i across t Papa Ot and smi
"You ca Just bel
Potter took a breath and looked at the view. He was nervous and scared to do something new.
"I can do hard things, yes it's true. One small paddle, and then two."
Potter stepped in with a splash and a hop.
The water felt chilly and made his heart flop.
"It's cold!" he squeaked."I don't know what to do!"
Papa Otter yelled out, "I believe in you!"
Potter took a breath and counted, “One, two.”
I can do hard things, yes it's true.
One small paddle, and then two."
He paddled a little, then paddled some more. But soon he felt nervous
So far from the shore.
"Papa!" he called.
"Can you carry me throug I think that's what I'd rather you do!”
Papa Otter swam close and gave him a squeeze
"I'd love to help, little one, if you please.”
“But if I carry you all the way through, You'll never discover what hard things you can do."
Potter looked down at the water anew. "Do you really think I can do it, too?"
Papa smiled wide. "You can do hard things, yes it's true. One small paddle, and then two." He paddled past lilies. He paddled past reeds. He paddled with courage and he started to speed.
The river felt smaller, the flowers in view,
One small paddle, and then two.
He made a big splash and one final push,
Then onto the shoreline he climbed with a “whoosh!”
"I did it!" he shouted. "I really swam through!"
Papa cheered loudly, "I’m so proud of you!"
Potter the Otter lifted his head, he stood tall and smiled when he said:
"I can do hard things,
yes it's true.
I
took LOTS of paddles ... not just two!"
The flowers all danced as the warm breezes blew. The river kept singing its swishy-swish tune.
And Potter learned something important and true: The people who love you may not carry you through.
But they'll stand right beside you, believing in you. You can do hard things. That is true.
