"Time to move," whistled Hermit Crab one cold day in January. "I've grown too big." He had felt safe and snug in his home. But now it was too small. Hermit Crab stepped out of his old home and onto the floor of the ocean, thankful that he already had found a perfectly spacious shell to move into. "This new shell is pretty big, and I m ready to make it my home" he thought. "But it s rather dull." The Hermit Crab scurried along the sea floor excited to get started with his new adventure.
In March, Hermit Crab bumped into his cousin Crab. They tapped their claws together in the water like they were high-fiving. What s up little cuz? asked Hermit Crab. His cousin responded with a little dance and a flip. Would you be willing to keep me company and come live on my home? It is so quiet here. I need you around. I don t want to leave my peeps, said Cousin Crab. But I am your family, and together we will build a bigger family, explained Hermit Crab. Alright, I ll come, said Cousin Crab happily as he jiggled and wiggled his way to the top of Hermit Crab s shell.
In April, Hermit Crab passed a school of electric eels slithering quickly along the sea floor. How shocking you are! said Hermit Crab. Would one of you be willing to power my house? I have no light, and how am I supposed to watch TV? I guess I could, buzzed a little eel. Don t worry we will stick together, and you can power my Sandbox 360. Carefully, Hermit Crab scurried next to the eel.
In May, Hermit Crab discovered some Octopus They were jiggly, and sticky. How inky you are! said Hermit Crab. Would you be willing to help defend our house from predators? I am a little nervous, murmured the octopus. I can help calm your nerves. Let me tell you a joke. How many tickles does it take to make you laugh? Ten tickles!!! Then the octopus laughed and felt better. The octopus followed him.
In June, Hermit Crab happily scurried up to a group of cleaner shrimp crawling over rocks on the ocean floor. My, you keep the ocean floor clean, said the Hermit Crab. Would one of you be willing to come and make my home sanitary and tidy too? I don t know, said one of the cleaner shrimp. Change is scary, and I m comfortable here. Don t worry, reassured Hermit Crab. We will make you comfortable and make you feel like you are with your real family. Maybe you are right. I ll give it a chance, said one of the cleaner shrimp. Happily, the cleaner shrimp stuck himself under Hermit Crab and cleaned along as they swam away.
In July, Hermit Crab came upon several dazzling jelly fish. They were clear blue like the sky. How beautiful you look! said Hermit Crab. Would you like to come decorate my home? That sounds glowing, said Jelly fish, but I do not want to leave my family and home. Little Jelly Fish, you can come join my family, said Hermit Crab excitedly. Oh, Jelly Fish replied reluctantly. She was a little bit afraid, but Jelly Fish swam over next to Hermit Crab and followed him.
In August, Hermit Crab and his friends wandered into a forest of rocks and broken shells. There s something big coming GO!! screamed octopus. How rough it is, whispered the crab. I am going to get cuts! screamed the eel. How gross it is, complained the jellyfish. I can t clean all of this! said the shrimp. It s darker than my ink! cried the octopus.
In September, Hermit Crab spotted some seahorses darting through the dark water. How strong you are! said Hermit Crab. Would one of you be willing to pull us through our rough patches? But it s so dark and depressing, complained one seahorse. But we re all together, so it won t be so scary. Hermit Crab said. Then the crab did a little dance and the seahorse pulled them through the rocky patch.
In October, Hermit Crab walked right up to an arrangement of shiny, silver and sparkly shells. How beautiful and stable you are! admired the Hermit Crab. Would you mind if I place you around my house? But we are so used to being in this arrangement, answered the shells. Hermit Crab picked them up one by one with his claw and built a shield around his home. Now my home is stable and perfect! cheered Hermit Crab.
But in November, Hermit Crab felt that his shell seemed a little too tight. Little by little, over the year, Hermit Crab had gotten bigger. Soon he would have to find another, bigger home. But he had come to love his newest friends, his cousin the crab, the octopus, electric eel, jelly fish, cleaner shrimp, sea horse and the sea shells. Take good care friends, said Hermit Crab. It was fun pulling you around, said Sea Horse, I m going to miss playing with your Sandbox 360, said Electric Eel. It was fun inking your shell, said Octopus. Making you stable was a blast, said the shells. It was fun to sanitize your shell, laughed Cleaner Shrimp. Change is so hard, thought Hermit Crab. These friends are like a family. But I have taught them to accept change, so I must as well.
In December, a smaller hermit crab passed by. I have outgrown my shell, he exclaimed. Would you happen to know of a place for me to live? I have outgrown my home, too, answered Hermit Crab. I would be overjoyed to let you take my home but only on one condition. You must promise to be good to my friends. They are like a family to me. I promise, cried the little crab. Thank you so much, she said gratefully. I will pass your kindness forward as soon as I can. Through his sadness, realizing that being kind brings kindness back to you, Hermit Crab forced a smile. Then he went off in search of a new home and adventure.
The following January, Hermit Crab stepped out and the little crab moved in. He paused for a second and a salty tear rolled down his cheek. Hermit Crab turned around and watched the little crab moving into his old shell. He thought to himself, It never gets easy to leave your family. The ocean floor looked wide, but he still proudly marched on. As he turned his head forward he saw a big hermit crab standing in front of him. Why so sad bud? I just had to give up my family. I m sorry, I know how hard that is. I need a new shell too, the big hermit crab said. You can have my family. The barnacle, sea star, clownfish, and my favorite Sally the snail. But you must take good care of them. Sir I know what it s like, I promise to take very good care of your family.
I can t wait to get to know my new family, and find some more friends! Hermit Crab said with delight. Whales! he thought Sharks, squid, sea turtles, dolphins! Oh, there are still so many possibilities! I can t wait to start another adventure!