The Fish who Wanted to Dance With the Stars

The Fish who Wanted to Dance With the Stars

Pesho the Fish looked up and saw lights sparkling. They were twinkling and twirling. It looked like they were dancing.

“What are they?” he asked his mom.

“Stars,” she said, “they come out at night.”

Pesho watched them. He imagined twinkling, twirling, and dancing with them. He had a plan.

“I want to dance with the stars!”

But how could a fish dance with stars?

The next day, Pesho told his friends his plan: “I’m going to dance with the stars!”

“I’ve never heard of a fish dancing with stars!” They laughed.

But Pesho was determined.

That night, he began to swim towards the surface of the sea. The stars twinkled brighter, but doubt filled his mind. Pesho remembered his friends’ words. Maybe a fish hadn’t danced with stars before because stars didn’t welcome fish. He hurried back home where he knew he was welcome.

When morning came, Pesho thought about the stars.

“I’m not giving up on my plan!” he told his friends.

"You’ll never get all the way to the surface! And there is nothing there anyway.” His friends laughed again.

“There must be something there, something fantastic, like the beautiful, starry skies!” said Pesho, but the other fish had all swam away… except for one, Seaya, Pesho’s best friend.

“Don’t listen to them. You can do it!” she encouraged him.

That night, Pesho slipped out from his coral room and started swimming towards the surface. As he got close, he could see the stars more clearly. They were beautiful and shiny!

Suddenly, Pesho stopped swimming. He saw a star fly across the sky… a shooting star!

“Where is he going? Doesn’t he want to meet me? What if the stars don’t want to dance with me?”

Pesho panicked, remembering his friends’ words about not making it to the surface. It still felt like a long way to go. Afraid, in a blink, he was back home, shaking.

The next evening, while watching the stars from his coral bed, Mom Fish swam into his room.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I want to dance with the stars, but everyone says I can’t. They say stars won’t want to dance with me and I won’t make it to the surface. I’m scared,” Pesho replied.

“What are you scared of?”

“What if I can’t get there? What if the stars don’t want to dance with me?” Pesho had many questions.

Mom Fish smiled gently at her baby.

“You won’t know if you don’t try. Maybe it won’t work the first time, but try again. I’m sure you can make it to the surface, I’m sure they’re waiting for you, and I’m sure they’ll welcome you! Don’t give up just because others say you can’t.”

“What will I find there?” asked Pesho.

“Something new. Don’t be afraid of discovering. It may feel scary at first, but be brave and explore the world. There are plenty of good things out there that you will enjoy very much.”

As Pesho listened, his body filled with energy. The trust from his mom helped to overcome his fear.

Pesho jumped out of bed, left the coral house, and looked up to the sky. The stars twinkled. They were waiting!

He swam, stronger and stronger. The lights from the stars grew bigger and bigger.

Halfway, Pesho noticed his best friend, Seaya.

“You can do it, Pesho!” she cheered him on.

Pesho felt more determined.

The water was getting warmer.

Slowing, Pesho enjoyed the view. The stars were dancing in harmony in the sky, dancing together… but not with him.

He looked down towards home. His mom was waving her fins and smiling.

“I believe in you!” she called.

Refilled with new energy, Pesho swam faster, ready to discover a new and beautiful world! His fins moved so fast they created lots of bubbles.

When he reached the surface, Pesho didn’t stop… he made a beautiful pirouette and… leaped out of the water!

The stars twirled, twinkled, and danced around him.

“I’ve done it!” Pesho laughed happily. “I’m dancing with the stars!”

My first ten pages are attached in PDF format.