The Whale in My Puddle

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Every word, start to finish. The pictures come next — painted around your child, from one photo.

1. For Theo, who dug all afternoon and told nobody.

   For Amara, who dug all afternoon and told nobody.

   For Otto, who dug all afternoon and told nobody.

   Dedication

2. The storm finished at dawn, and left the parking lot rinsed and shining and empty. By nine there was a whale in it. Nobody else had noticed, because nobody else had looked down.

   The storm finished at dawn, and left the parking lot rinsed and shining and empty. By nine there was a whale in it. Nobody else had noticed, because nobody else had looked down.

   The storm finished at dawn, and left the parking lot rinsed and shining and empty. By nine there was a whale in it. Nobody else had noticed, because nobody else had looked down.

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3. It was far too big for the puddle and lay very still, fitting anyway, the way impossible things do. One eye came up through the water and looked at Theo. The puddle was getting smaller. The sun was coming out.

   It was far too big for the puddle and lay very still, fitting anyway, the way impossible things do. One eye came up through the water and looked at Amara. The puddle was getting smaller. The sun was coming out.

   It was far too big for the puddle and lay very still, fitting anyway, the way impossible things do. One eye came up through the water and looked at Otto. The puddle was getting smaller. The sun was coming out.

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4. Theo started with a bucket, at a run, slopping most of each load down one boot. The sea was two miles away. The whale watched him go back and forth, patient as furniture.

   Amara started with a bucket, at a run, slopping most of each load down one boot. The sea was two miles away. The whale watched her go back and forth, patient as furniture.

   Otto started with a bucket, at a run, slopping most of each load down one boot. The sea was two miles away. The whale watched him go back and forth, patient as furniture.

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5. Bucket arithmetic is cruel. Four hundred trips short, at least, and the edges of the puddle were already drying to a pale ring. A gull came down, looked at the whale, and decided to say nothing.

   Bucket arithmetic is cruel. Four hundred trips short, at least, and the edges of the puddle were already drying to a pale ring. A gull came down, looked at the whale, and decided to say nothing.

   Bucket arithmetic is cruel. Four hundred trips short, at least, and the edges of the puddle were already drying to a pale ring. A gull came down, looked at the whale, and decided to say nothing.

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6. Fine. If the sea would not come to the whale, the whale would go to the sea. Theo fetched the wagon and the good rope, and tied the knot he was proudest of.

   Fine. If the sea would not come to the whale, the whale would go to the sea. Amara fetched the wagon and the good rope, and tied the knot she was proudest of.

   Fine. If the sea would not come to the whale, the whale would go to the sea. Otto fetched the wagon and the good rope, and tied the knot he was proudest of.

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7. The whale weighed as much as a house. The wagon did not survive. The knot held, which was something, but a knot can only be as brave as its wagon.

   The whale weighed as much as a house. The wagon did not survive. The knot held, which was something, but a knot can only be as brave as its wagon.

   The whale weighed as much as a house. The wagon did not survive. The knot held, which was something, but a knot can only be as brave as its wagon.

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8. Theo fetched a grown-up, the tallest one available, and pointed. The grown-up looked at the puddle for a long time. “Yes,” said the grown-up, kindly. “A puddle.” Some help has to be done without.

   Amara fetched a grown-up, the tallest one available, and pointed. The grown-up looked at the puddle for a long time. “Yes,” said the grown-up, kindly. “A puddle.” Some help has to be done without.

   Otto fetched a grown-up, the tallest one available, and pointed. The grown-up looked at the puddle for a long time. “Yes,” said the grown-up, kindly. “A puddle.” Some help has to be done without.

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9. By midday the water was a film, thin as a window. Theo stood very still, thinking like water instead of like a person carrying it. Water does not need carrying. Water needs somewhere to go. He looked at the drain.

   By midday the water was a film, thin as a window. Amara stood very still, thinking like water instead of like a person carrying it. Water does not need carrying. Water needs somewhere to go. She looked at the drain.

   By midday the water was a film, thin as a window. Otto stood very still, thinking like water instead of like a person carrying it. Water does not need carrying. Water needs somewhere to go. He looked at the drain.

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10. A stick. A drain. A gutter. A creek. A creek that reached the sea, eventually, the long way, like all creeks do. Theo dug all afternoon, through both knees of his pants, and told nobody.

    A stick. A drain. A gutter. A creek. A creek that reached the sea, eventually, the long way, like all creeks do. Amara dug all afternoon, through both knees of her pants, and told nobody.

    A stick. A drain. A gutter. A creek. A creek that reached the sea, eventually, the long way, like all creeks do. Otto dug all afternoon, through both knees of his pants, and told nobody.

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11. At five the channel filled, one slow inch of brown water finding its way. The whale felt it arrive and turned itself around to face the right way, careful as a ship in a harbor.

    At five the channel filled, one slow inch of brown water finding its way. The whale felt it arrive and turned itself around to face the right way, careful as a ship in a harbor.

    At five the channel filled, one slow inch of brown water finding its way. The whale felt it arrive and turned itself around to face the right way, careful as a ship in a harbor.

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12. It went at six o'clock, without a sound, sliding down the channel the way evening slides out of a day. It did not look back. Whales say thank you by fitting through.

    It went at six o'clock, without a sound, sliding down the channel the way evening slides out of a day. It did not look back. Whales say thank you by fitting through.

    It went at six o'clock, without a sound, sliding down the channel the way evening slides out of a day. It did not look back. Whales say thank you by fitting through.

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13. There is nothing in that puddle now. There is usually nothing in any of them. Theo checks anyway, every single time it rains, because the space a whale leaves stays whale-shaped for a long while.

    There is nothing in that puddle now. There is usually nothing in any of them. Amara checks anyway, every single time it rains, because the space a whale leaves stays whale-shaped for a long while.

    There is nothing in that puddle now. There is usually nothing in any of them. Otto checks anyway, every single time it rains, because the space a whale leaves stays whale-shaped for a long while.

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