Russell the Mussel

With that said, Wanda raced to the water’s surface,tucked a bubble of breathing air under her tummy, andscurried back under, with her legs moving fast, firstone, then another, as if she were rowing a boat.Jill, who was visiting her grandparents’ farm, bentdown near the water so she could see and hear what washappening beneath the surface. Water, she thought, wassomething you drank, took a bath in, swam in, or rodeboats on. But what she saw down below was awhole new world, a world she hadnever imagined!Wanda looked up at Jill and said,“Come closer.”Jill had just scrunched down as close to thewater as she could, when Russell, a verydignified rabbitsfoot mussel withbumps and knobs on his twoshells, said politely, “Welcometo our world, Jill.” Hewas partially buried in thestream bottom, and Jillpeered into his gapingshell.Russell had often seen Jillwading in the water with her grandparentsas they picked up bottles and rusty cansthat careless humans had tossed intoCrystal Creek.