Attempt at a Children's Story

It was the 25th anniversary of the Happy Valley Aquarium, and the humans threw a big anniversary party!  After the party, they were too tired to clean up, so they left it for the morning.

Much to the luck of the animals, they had planned a party too that very same night, and the penguin hosts were quite pleased to find snacks, refreshments, and pleasant decorations already set up.  All they had to do was sweep up the place, and discretely tuck their herring snacks in a private location, so as not to offend the fish guests.  

Meanwhile, the other animals were busy preparing for the party.  The sea nettles were donning their finest ruffles; the sea lions were swimming laps, so they could squeeze into their suits; the sea otters were collecting sea stars to wear as jewelry.  The sea stars begrudgingly obliged, for they hadn’t received a direct invitation and had no other means of access into the party. 

The only animal in the aquarium who wasn’t attending the party was the octopus.  A shy creature, the octopus preferred to dwell in the shadows of his tank, where no one could find him.  He also didn’t know how to dance, which made attending parties a big bother.  The other animals knew these things about the octopus, but still insisted that he attend the party.

“Octopus, won’t you come to the party?”  asked sea otter.  “I found a sea star especially for you!”

“I have other obligations,” the octopus lied.

“Octopus, won’t you come to the party?” asked sea lion.  “There’s going to be great food!”

“I’m watching my weight,” said the octopus.

“Octopus, won’t you come to the party?” asked sea nettle.  “There’s live music and a dance floor!”

“I don’t know how to dance,” replied the octopus.

The other animals gave up on encouraging the octopus to attend, because the party was about to begin.  The penguin hosts were dressed in their finest tuxedos, and carried around platters of freshwater hors d’oeuvres.  The jellyfish arrived first, and immediately hit the dance floor; the piranhas came in a swarm, and devoured the snack table; the sea lions arrived last, dressed in skin-tight suits.  In less than ten minutes tentacles, bits of food, and buttons were flying everywhere.

By 10 o’clock, the party was in full swing, and it was time for penguin to make a toast.  At the ting-ting-ting sound of penguin tapping a spoon against glass, the animals stopped dancing and the music ceased.  Penguin opened his beak to deliver the toast, but realized that no eyes were on him!  Instead, they were on the octopus, who had just entered the room.  He was wearing a bow tie, and he had turned beet-red. 

“Octopus!  You’ve arrived after all!” exclaimed the sea otter.

“I thought I would...branch out a little,” octopus said sheepishly.  “But with all eyes on me, I would rather disappear...”  Octopus began to change color, blending in with the colorful streamers hanging behind him.

“Nonsense!  You’re going to dance with me!” exclaimed a jellyfish, and she grabbed him by the tentacle and dragged him to the dance floor.  The music started playing again, and the rest of the animals resumed dancing.  Pleased with the success of his party, penguin refrained from quieting the animals, but instead made his toast over the noise.  “To the arrival of octopus!” he exclaimed.  

“To octopus!” everyone cheered.  Octopus’s cheeks flushed red again, but this time it was not from embarrassment--it was from dancing!