From Wundry, I'm Philip Sioux and this is little stories everywhere.

Each episode will bring you stories for kids that spark the imagination,

take you to other worlds worlds and bring joy.

This story is called Under the Water. In the dark of my closed eyelids, I see a silvery light, it's moving.

In the dark of my closed eyelids, I see a silvery light. It's moving. The light thickens and turns to face me.

Nine noses, flaring. Dark black eyes glistening from above, whiskers flowing from either side of its face,

like an old woman's hair in water. I think it's a snake. Then it dawns on me. No, this is a dragon.

When I open my eyes, I feel the bright rays of the summer sun. The fishing pole in my hand curves into the water. A weight pulls at the line. My

real gives. I jerked the fishing pole back with my right hand. My left stills the reel, holding fast to its handle.

The summer flowers bloom among the underbrush of the tall trees behind me. All I hear is the water rushing.

I look for my father along the bank of the Mississippi River. He's nowhere to be found.

Father, Father, where are you?

Before I see him, I hear him.

I'm here. I'm here. My father, a short man with straight shoulders, walks

quickly toward me. He is excited. I've caught a fish. So am I. I focus on the sound of my father's voice,

his steady directions. Walk slowly backward, reel it in slowly.

Keep the line taught.

Hold your pull higher.

Breathe through it.

Feel its power.

Respect it.

Later. Respect it. Later, we are in a small clearing not far from the riverbank.

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