The morning sun sparkled through the water above Seastar Lagoon, and Marina swam into Coral Reef School humming happily.
Today, Mrs. Tulla had written a big message on the shell board:
“Show and Tell Day!”
All the students buzzed with excitement.
Finley brought a tiny treasure chest filled with shiny marbles.
Coralina brought her favorite pink comb made from coral.
But when Marina looked around, one friend seemed nervous —
Sir Bubblesworth, the fancy pufferfish with the little bow tie.
He floated quietly near his desk, holding a small seashell bag.
“Are you okay?” Marina asked softly.
Sir Bubblesworth straightened his bow tie. “Ahem! Quite fine! Perfectly fine! Nothing to see here!”
But his fins wobbled.
A Curious Secret
When it was his turn, Mrs. Tulla smiled kindly. “Your turn, Sir Bubblesworth. What did you bring?”
He puffed up slightly. “Ah, well… It’s rather private.”
The class giggled.
“Come on!” Finley said. “It’s show and tell, not hide and tell!”
Sir Bubblesworth sighed. “Very well. But promise… no laughing!”
He opened his seashell bag and pulled out… a tiny golden crown.
Gasps filled the room.
Mrs. Tulla blinked. “That looks royal!”
Sir Bubblesworth puffed a little bigger. “Indeed. I… used to live in the Royal Aquarium Palace.”
“Wait, you were royal?” Coralina asked, her eyes wide.
“Well, not exactly royal,” Sir Bubblesworth said quickly. “More like… the royal pet. But still! I was part of the royal family!”
The room went silent — then Finley burst out laughing.
“You? A royal pet? That’s awesome!”
Sir Bubblesworth frowned. “Awesome is not the word I’d choose!”
Marina smiled kindly. “That’s actually really special. But… why didn’t you ever tell us?”
He looked down. “Because I wasn’t very good at being fancy. I popped the Queen’s bubbles once during dinner. They called me Sir Bubbleburst for a whole year.”
The class giggled again — not meanly this time.
Mrs. Tulla smiled gently. “Sometimes our mistakes make the best stories.”
Trouble in the Courtyard
At recess, the friends played outside. The seaweed swings and shell slides sparkled with festival decorations.
Captain Crabby was setting up a tray of jelly treats nearby. “No funny business!” he warned. “These are for the Festival of Glimmering Fins!”
But as he turned around, a big wave swept through the courtyard —
and WHOOSH! The jelly treats floated off the tray!
Captain Crabby gasped. “My treats! Stop them!”
Finley tried to chase them, but they were slippery.
Coralina yelled, “They’re flying away!”
Marina’s pearl necklace glowed. “I’ll get them!”
She waved her hands, and bubble-sparkle magic surrounded the jelly treats — but there were too many. They started spinning wildly in a bubble tornado!
“Oh no!” she cried. “I can’t control them all!”
The spinning treats zoomed toward Mrs. Tulla’s classroom window.
“Someone do something!” Finley shouted.
Sir Bubblesworth gulped. “Time to be brave!”
He puffed himself up — bigger and bigger — until he blocked the flying treats! SPLAT! The jellies stuck to his round belly like polka dots.
The class cheered!
“You did it!” Marina said, laughing.
Sir Bubblesworth floated proudly, covered in jelly. “Ahem. Just another day of heroism.”
Captain Crabby grinned. “Guess you’re not just a royal pet anymore. You’re a royal protector!”
A Noble Title
Later that day, Mrs. Tulla clapped her flippers. “Thanks to Sir Bubblesworth’s quick thinking, nothing was broken. I think he’s earned a new title!”
Finley raised a fin. “How about… Sir Bubblesworth the Brave!”
The whole class cheered.
Sir Bubblesworth puffed a little, smiling. “I humbly accept this great honor.”
Marina giggled. “I think you’re perfect just the way you are — royal or not.”
He nodded. “And you, Marina, are the real hero of Seastar Lagoon.”
Marina smiled. “Maybe we both are.”
As they swam home that day, the sunlight sparkled through the bubbles behind them.
And Sir Bubblesworth quietly whispered,
“Being brave feels better than being fancy.”
⭐ Follow-Up Questions
1️⃣ What was Sir Bubblesworth hiding at the beginning of the story?
2️⃣ How did he help save the day?
3️⃣ What did he learn about being brave?
