The Crab That Played With the Sea

Long, long ago, the Big Magician was making the world. He gave every animal a game to play.

'Elephant,' he said, 'play at being an Elephant.' And Elephant did.

'Beaver,' he said, 'play at being a Beaver.' And Beaver did.

'Turtle,' he said, 'play at being a Turtle.' And Turtle did.

But when it was Crab's turn, POP, Crab ran away. Into the deep sea. Nobody saw him go.

One day, Man went out in his little boat. And the sea was doing strange things. It went out. Then it came back. Then out. Then back. Splish, splash, splish, splash. Man's boat got very muddy every time.

'Someone is playing with the sea,' said the Big Magician. 'Who is it?'

He looked. He looked deep. And at the bottom of the sea, he found Crab. A very big crab. Playing with the water.

'Crab,' said the Big Magician. 'You never got a game. So you made your own. But you are too big.'

The Magician touched Crab with one finger.

And Crab got SMALL. Tiny. Small enough to fit under a stone.

'Now,' said the Magician, 'you can play. But you shall have soft moments and hard moments, to keep you humble.'

And that is why, to this very day, crabs are small, and hide under stones, and lose their shells once a year.

And the sea? Well, the sea still goes out and comes back. But not because of the crab. It is because of the Moon now. And that is a whole other story.