Nessie Sparkles and the River of Reflection
by

Thomas

A story about Anger
for your 3rd Grader.

Nessie Sparkles was a shimmering Loch Ness Monster who lived in a peaceful river. She liked to explore every twist and turn, gliding under weeping willows and greeting singing birds as they flew by.

One bright morning, Nessie Sparkles felt extra excited. She flipped her giant tail to practice a new trick, but her splash was bigger than she ever imagined.

Waves rushed onto the riverbanks, and water spilled over the edges. The sudden flood startled the playful otters and ruffled the feathers of startled birds.

Nessie Sparkles watched in horror. "Oh no," she cried. "I caused a flood! I feel like such a mess!" She grew upset, and her heart pounded with anger at herself.

Just then, a kind otter paddled closer. "Nessie Sparkles, are you all right?" asked the otter gently. "I’ve never seen your scales so dull. You look worried."

"I’m angry at myself," Nessie Sparkles confessed. "I didn’t mean to cause this trouble. What should I do?" The otter gave a soft smile. "Everybody feels anger sometimes. Let’s find out where yours is coming from and how you can let it go gently."

They set out upstream to see how far the water had spread. Nessie Sparkles took several deep breaths to settle her racing thoughts. She wondered if everyone was mad at her.

"When I feel angry," the otter explained, "I try to stop and breathe. Then I ask myself: ‘Why am I feeling this way?’ It helps me calm down and think more clearly." Nessie Sparkles nodded, though her heart still felt heavy.