During my Onam holidays, I went to Goa with my mother and brother to be with my cousins. They lived in a far away village by the sea. Because it was the rainy season, the sea was stormy and the beach saw very few visitors. The week we were in Goa, it rained every day. But we had loads of fun playing at home. One day, when it was not raining, we decided to go to the beach with our umbrellas and jackets. We did not dare go near the sea. So we were walking along the beach collecting shells. Suddenly, I saw a small snake-like thing on the beach! But it had tiny gills! My mother told me that it was a baby eel, which must have come to the shore along with the huge waves and had got stranded on the beach. The tail end of the baby eel was stuck in the sand. Mother told me to help the baby eel to free itself. First I was scared. But then slowly with my foot I scooped out some sand at the tail-end of the baby eel. But she continued to remain stuck. I scooped out some more sand. Now she was totally free. I could see her body wriggling like a snake. But she still could not swim. Every time a wave of sea water touched her she would try hard to get back into the sea. Then one strong wave reached the shore and she got the ‘lift’ she needed! Quickly she rode on the wave, like on a surf-board, back into the sea. I felt so proud to have rescued that little baby eel. Getting wet in the rain was fun and rescuing the eel was double fun! I learned something. Every small and big creature needs help and care.
Anugraha John, III A, Trivandrum International School, Kazhakuttam, Thiruvananthapuram
