The Night the Water Sparkled
1Uncle Teo and Nia buckled their life jackets and pushed their little boat into the bay just after dark. The air was warm, and the water was calm and black. Nia held her paddle tight. She had never been out on the water at night.
2Nia dipped her paddle in. Swish! The water around it flashed blue-green, like a hundred tiny stars. Nia gasped. "Uncle Teo, the water is sparkling!"
3Uncle Teo smiled. "This bay is full of tiny living things," he said. "When the water moves, they flash with light." The tiny things were too small to see one at a time, but together they lit up the bay.
4Nia leaned over and swished her hand back and forth. Bright little sparks swirled around her fingers. A fish zipped under the boat and left a glowing trail behind it.
5On the ride home, Nia did not say a word. She was too busy painting the water with light, one stroke at a time.