The Tiny Ship on the Pond

Mia found a pirate ship no bigger than her sneaker. It was stuck in the reeds at the edge of the pond.

It had a little wooden deck and a little black flag. It had a mast, too, but the sail was torn. Only half of it was left, flapping like a tired ear.

"Little ship, little ship," said Mia. "Where were you going?"

She looked across the pond. Big lily pads floated out in the middle, wide enough to stand on. One of them had a frog sitting in the center like a king.

"I know," said Mia. "You wanted to reach the big pad. And I'll help you get there."

She set the ship on the water and gave it a push. It did not go to the big pad. It went round and round, like a spinning top.

"Little ship, little ship, go straight," said Mia.

She blew on it. The ship spun the other way.

"Hmm," said Mia. She sat on her backpack and watched. The wind tickled her cheek. It pushed the half sail, but there was nothing on the other side to push back.

"Oh!" said Mia. "You need two sides."

She looked around. She picked a long green reed leaf, as wide as her hand. She pulled the lace from her sneaker and tied the leaf to the mast, beside the torn sail.

Now there were two halves, one white and one green.

"Little ship, little ship, wind in your sails," whispered Mia. She set it down.

The wind puffed. The sails filled. The ship slid across the water, straight as a ruler.

Bump! It tapped the big lily pad.

The frog looked down. He had only come to sit in the sun, and he did not move.

"Ribbit," said the frog, and he shut his eyes again.

The little black flag stood up tall in the breeze, and the water wobbled all around it.