Mrs. Karp stared at Rocky and then at the girls. Kiki felt sick to her stomach again. “There is one regrettable part about today’s ocean trip,” Mrs. Karp said.

Kiki waited anxiously as Mrs. Karp paused.

“I am terribly disappointed that I did not get to ride the whales,” Mrs. Karp told them. “I have always wanted to breach with a humpback.”

Kiki looked at her teacher in surprise. “You mean we aren’t in trouble?” she asked.

Mrs. Karp shook her head. “Not this time.” Then she smiled and continued, “But if the humpbacks ever come back, I expect a ride.”

“Of course,” Kiki quickly told her teacher. “Orman, my new whale friend, would be delighted.” Kiki’s lucky starfish charm sat on top of her desk. With the charm, and with the help of Shelly, Echo, and Orman, she had faced her biggest fear. Kiki smiled and wrote her essay. She couldn’t wait for her next big adventure at Trident Academy.

Class Reports

MY ESSAY ON HUMPBACK WHALES

By Shelly Siren

Today I did something I have only dreamed about. I got to breach on top of a humpback whale. It was amazing. The whale, whose name is Mortimer, was so big he made me feel like a tiny speck of the littlest krill.

MY ESSAY ON HUMPBACK WHALES

By Echo Reef

I learned that humpback whales sing very loud songs. I think their songs are kind of sad, like they are missing a loved one. Humpback whales have the longest songs of any sea creature. They are also very friendly to mermaids. I was sorry we didn’t get to see a human, but I will never forget riding a whale.

MY ESSAY ON HUMPBACK WHALES

By Rocky Ridge

At first, I thought the humpback whales were really ugly. After all, they have bumps all over their faces. But when I saw one jump out of the water, I thought it was really pretty.

MY ESSAY ON HUMPBACK WHALES

By Pearl Swamp

Humpback whales are the biggest, grossest, most disgusting creatures in the ocean. They are noisy and stinky. I hope I never have to see another one ever again. I don’t think it’s fair that some people in our class didn’t get in trouble for doing something they shouldn’t have done. And it wasn’t right that they didn’t share with us. If one person got to ride on a whale, then everyone should get to ride on a whale. It’s only fair.

MY ESSAY ON HUMPBACK WHALES

By Kiki Coral

I was terrified of being around the biggest creatures in the ocean. I thought because they were big, they would be mean. But they were very nice and understanding.

I enjoyed looking around when we breached. I could see the blue of the ocean going on forever. All around us, the sky matched the blue. I felt like a seabird soaring high above the world.