Once upon a time, in the big blue ocean, there lived a little dolphin named Finny. Finny loved to play more than anything! He loved to chase his friends, leap out of the water, and splash his tail as hard as he could. The sun sparkling on the waves above made him feel so happy and full of energy.
Finny was a very energetic dolphin indeed. He zipped and zoomed through the water all day long. Sometimes, when he played too fast, he might accidentally bump a sway sea anemone or splash a little wave onto a slower fish swimming nearby. He never meant to be clumsy, he was just so full of playful energy he found it hard to slow down!
Mama Dolphin watched Finny play with a loving smile. One afternoon, she called him over gently. "Finny," she said softly, using her kind dolphin clicks and whistles, "it's wonderful to play and have fun, but remember to be gentle too. The ocean is home to many creatures, big and small. Being gentle keeps everyone safe and happy in our big ocean home."
Finny listened carefully to Mama Dolphin's words. He wanted to be a good and kind dolphin. The very next time he saw a tiny seahorse clinging to some wavy seaweed, he made sure to slow down his swim, gliding smoothly past instead of zipping quickly. He saw a sleepy old turtle resting on a rock and swam around him with extra care. It felt good to be gentle and mindful of others.
As the sun began to dip low towards the edge of the water, painting the sky in warm shades of orange and pink, a special sound echoed through the ocean. It was a soft, clicking call from the wise older dolphins in the pod, a signal that everyone should gather together. It meant that bedtime was near, time to find a safe, warm spot to rest together as a family pod.
Finny remembered Mama's earlier gentle words about listening carefully for important signals. He stopped his playful flips and dives right away and turned, following the sound of the call. Other dolphins were also swimming calmly towards the meeting spot. Finny felt a sense of peace wash over him as he swam, not rushing this time, just gliding gently through the quiet water towards home.
He joined the group in a cozy cove where the water was calm and felt warm like a soft blanket. Mama Dolphin was there, and Finny snuggled close beside her, feeling safe and loved. He thought about his day – playing games, learning to be gentle with others, and listening for the special call that meant it was time to rest.
The gentle sway of the water in the cove was like a soft lullaby rocking him. Finny closed his eyes, feeling thankful for his friends, his warm family, and his beautiful ocean home. He took a deep, calm breath and settled in for the night. Soon, little Finny the dolphin was fast asleep, dreaming sweet dreams of gentle waves and kind swims until the morning light would arrive.