The Old Woman and the Sea Spirit

The Old Woman and the Sea Spirit

Isabella was old. Her garden was too big for her tired back. Her children were grown. No one needs me anymore, she thought. She left her village. She moved into a small shack by the seashore, where she lived alone.

One night, there was a storm. The sea wolves came out to hunt, as they only did when the ocean was fierce. They howled, riding the rough waves. The next morning, the beach was littered with clams that had washed ashore. What a feast! Isabella thought.

She picked up a shell. Inside was a tiny, frightened child. She had silver hair and a silver fish's tail. " You must be a little spirit of the sea! " Isabella said. " I bet you are hiding from those sea wolves, " she murmured.

Word Wise Sirena means " mermaid" in Spanish. Isabella brought the sea spirit to a calm pool near her shack. The little girl danced in the shallow water. The sea spirit stayed with Isabella, who named her Sirena. Isabella shared her clams. She sang songs from her village. Sirena sang songs from the sea. They grew to be like mother and daughter.

One year later, Isabella saw a flash of silver in the waves. It was Sirena's mother. Sirena leaped over the rocks. She swam through the waves. Isabella saw how strong Sirena was now. She was proud.