Rising Star. Summer Waters

       Prologue

      A long way out at sea, a small dolphin with a cheeky smile was swimming by himself when a sharp whistle startled him. Suddenly alert, Bubbles listened to the cry for help.

      “Mum! Where are you?”

      Bubbles knew that voice! At once he changed direction and swam towards the dolphin in distress.

      “Dot!” he clicked. “What are you doing so far out at sea on your own?”

      Dot was younger than Bubbles and much smaller than him.

      “Bubbles!” she squeaked, delighted to see a familiar face. “Mum said I could go off and play…but I got lost.”

      “Home’s this way,” clicked Bubbles kindly. “Follow me.”

      Bubbles kept checking that Dot was behind him as he led the little dolphin back to their pod.

      “Mum!” squeaked Dot, suddenly spotting her mother. “Thanks, Bubbles.” She rubbed her nose against his shyly and swam to join her mum.

      Bubbles continued on until he found his own family. Spirit, Star and Dream were swimming together near the kelp beds.

      “Dad, you’ll never guess what?” clicked Bubbles. “Dot’s mum let her play on her own and she got lost. Luckily I found her.”

      Spirit patted Bubbles with a fin.

      “Well done, son,” he clicked.

      “How could Dot’s mum let her go off like that?” asked Bubbles. “Wasn’t it dangerous?”

      Spirit rolled over thoughtfully, his silver skin sparkling in the sunlit water.

      “It’s hard letting children go off and do things on their own, but you have to, or they’ll never learn,” he said eventually.

      Bubbles stayed quiet for a moment, then smiled in understanding.

      “Like the Silver Dolphins. They learnt by

      doing things on their own.”

      Spirit nodded.

      “Just like the Silver Dolphins continue to.”

      “But I thought the Silver Dolphins knew everything they needed to know now,” said Bubbles.

      “There is always more to learn,” said Spirit wisely.

      “But you know everything, don’t you, Dad?” Bubbles persisted.

      Spirit clicked a laugh.

      “I wish I did,” he sighed. “But even I have more to learn.”