1 “Do I have to go, Mom?” Peter asked the question for the fourth time.

2 “Peter,” his mother said quietly. “We have planned this for weeks. I thought you were looking forward to it.”

3 “But fish are boring, Mom!” Peter was complaining about the family’s trip to a nearby
aquarium. “Why can’t I just stay home and watch Sam swim?” He pointed to his pet goldfish swimming lazily in a glass bowl.

4 “Peter, Sam is just one goldfish. You will see much more than that at the aquarium.” Peter could tell his mother was becoming impatient. He sighed loudly and joined his sister Sarah in the back seat of the car.

5 A short time later, the family pulled into the busy parking lot around the aquarium. Peter tried to look bored as they approached the main building, but he was starting to feel the excitement of the crowd around him. As they reached the building, he noticed a banner hanging over the entrance. He looked closely and read the words “Dragons of the Deep.”

6 “Dragons!” Sarah exclaimed. “Do you think they will be scary?”

7 “Of course not,” said her father. “Wait until you see what they really look like.”

8 Peter and Sarah followed their parents into the building. The air inside was cool, and the only light seemed to come from the blue water in the huge fish tanks. Peter looked in the first tank. At first glance, it appeared to be filled with leafy seaweed. Suddenly a long piece broke off from the rest and floated upward. Peter moved closer and noticed a dark eye and a horse-shaped head.

9 “It isn’t seaweed at all!” he said. “It’s an animal!”

10 Peter and Sarah were amazed as they watched more of the interesting creatures move about the tank. Their bodies were covered with leaf-like parts that floated outward, often making them difficult to see among the plants in the tank. “They are called sea dragons,” his mother explained. “They live in the ocean near Australia.” The family watched the strange fish a little longer, and then Peter tugged at his father’s hand.

11 “Come on, Dad,” he pleaded. “Let’s see the rest of the fish!”

12 “Wait a minute,” laughed his mother. “I thought fish were boring!”

13 Peter felt ashamed when his mother repeated his earlier words. “I’m sorry, Mom,” he
apologized. “I was wrong. This place is really great!”