Captain Seaweed and the Lost Octopus

On a fine, sunny day, Euan and Mum were at the park. Euan was feeding the ducks by throwing little duckbill-sized pieces of bread into the duckpond. The ducks quacked and gobbled up the bread. They were very hungry.

Suddenly, the water in the duckpond started to bubble and rumble and a big, orange submarine appeared. The ducks quacked more than ever and flapped their wings. Euan threw a piece of bread and it hit the side of the submarine, clonk!! The submarine wasn’t hungry.

The hatch on top of the submarine opened with a creak and out popped a man.

“I’m Captain Seaweed, submariner extraordinaire!” boomed the man.

Captain Seaweed had bright green hair and Euan thought he looked very strange indeed but didn’t say anything. That would be rude.

“Could you help me please?” asked Captain Seaweed. “You see, I’ve lost my pet and I can’t find him anywhere.”

“Is it a parrot who peers through your periscope?” asked Euan.

“No,” said Captain Seaweed.

“Is it a tortoise who takes care of your torpedoes?”

“Nope.”

“Is it a sausage-dog who sounds your sonar?”

“I’m afraid not, no. My pet is an octopus and all he does is be my best friend. I really miss him. I don’t suppose you’ve seen him anywhere? He’s…….”

But before Captain Seaweed could describe the octopus, Euan shouted, “DON’T BE SILLY, CAPTAIN SEAWEED. Octopi don’t live in the duckpond. An octopus lives in the sea.”

“Oh well. Thanks anyway,” said Captain Seaweed sadly. 

And with that, Captain Seaweed held his talking–tube up to his mouth and shouted, “DIVE, DIVE, DIVE.” The submarine siren went AHOOWA, AHOOWA, AHOOWA and Captain Seaweed rushed below and closed the hatch tight just before the submarine disappeared under the water.

That evening, Euan was in the bath. As he played, the bath-water started to froth and foam and the submarine surfaced between Euan’s feet. The hatch creaked again and Captain Seaweed appeared.

This time, as well as green hair, he also had thick green glasses. Euan thought he looked even stranger but didn’t say anything. That would be rude.

“Hello Euan,” said the Captain.

“Did you find your octopus?” asked Euan.

Captain Seaweed shook his head slowly.

“No, I’m still looking. Have you, by any chance, seen him around here? He’s…….”

But before Captain Seaweed could describe the octopus, Euan shouted, “DON’T BE A DAFTY, CAPTAIN SEAWEED! Octopi don’t live in the bath. An octopus lives in the sea.”

“Just thought I’d ask,” said Captain Seaweed, even sadder.

And with that, Captain Seaweed held his talking–tube up to his mouth and shouted, “DIVE, DIVE, DIVE.” The submarine siren went AHOOWA, AHOOWA, AHOOWA and Captain Seaweed rushed below and closed the hatch tight just before the submarine disappeared under the water.

Before bed, it was time for Euan to wash his face and brush his teeth. He filled the sink with water and was just about to dip his hands in when the water began to ripple and churn. The submarine popped up, the hatched creaked open and out climbed Captain Seaweed.

This time, as well green hair and thick green glasses, he also had a green moustache. Euan thought he looked incredibly strange but didn’t say anything. That would be rude.

“Hello again, Euan,” whispered the Captain, sadly.

“Any luck?” asked Euan.

Captain Seaweed looked down. “Are you sure you haven’t seen him anywhere? He’s………”

But before Captain Seaweed could describe the octopus, Euan shouted, “DON’T BE CRAZY, CAPTAIN SEAWEED! Octopi don’t live in the sink. An octopus lives in the sea.”

“It’s just that I miss him so,” said Captain Seaweed.

And with that, Captain Seaweed held his talking–tube up to his mouth and shouted, “DIVE, DIVE, DIVE.” The submarine siren went AHOOWA, AHOOWA, AHOOWA and Captain Seaweed rushed below and closed the hatch tight just before the submarine disappeared under the water.

It was last thing at night and Euan was going to the toilet before he climbed into bed for a story. He lifted the lid and was surprised to see the water in the toilet swirling and swooshing. Nobody had pulled the flusher! Then the submarine appeared and out popped Captain Seaweed.

This time, as well as green hair, thick green glasses and a green moustache, he also had a thick, green beard. Euan thought he looked unbelievably strange but didn’t say anything. That would be rude.

Captain Seaweed took a deep breath and said, “Pleasetellmeifyou’veseenmyoctopusHe’sgreenwitheightlegsandhe’slovelyand, and, and…..”

“Green?” said Euan with a gasp. Then something very strange happened. Captain Seaweed’s hair winked at Euan. His necktie began to wiggle and his moustache wandered all over his face and his glasses made shapes around his eyes. First circles, then squares then triangles.

“I know where your octopus is!” screamed Euan. “All you have to do is look up.”

Captain Seaweed looked up and the octopus on his head looked down. When they saw each other, the Captain shouted for joy and the octopus made a love-heart shape with his arms. Then he jumped down from the Captain’s head and hugged him tight with all eight arms. The Captain hugged back with just his own two arms but his hug was just as tight.

“Oh, thank you, Euan! Thank you,” boomed Captain Seaweed, submariner extraordinaire. And, as a special reward, he held the talking-tube up to Euan’s mouth.

Euan shouted “DIVE, DIVE, DIVE.” The submarine siren went AHOOWA, AHOOWA, AHOOWA and Captain Seaweed and the octopus rushed below and closed the hatch tight just before the submarine disappeared under the water.