The Three Sillies
The Three Sillies — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.
Page 1
In the shimmering depths of the Bioluminescent Sea lived three sisters: Coral, the dreamer; Pearl, the worrier; and Shelly, the silliest of them all. Their village, nestled within a giant, glowing clam, was usually a place of quiet industry, harvesting the sea's strange bounty. But a shadow loomed – an ancient prophecy foretold that if one of them acted foolishly, the Great Bloom, which lit their world, would dim forever, plunging them into eternal darkness. This tale is about that prophecy.
Page 2
One day, a messenger crab scuttled into the village, waving a scroll. "A suitor!" he clicked. "For one of the sisters!" Coral gasped, her eyes wide with romantic dreams. Pearl wrung her hands. "A suitor? What if he's... unsuitable?" Shelly, bouncing with excitement, simply shrieked, "Ooh, tell me everything!"
Page 3
The scroll announced the arrival of Prince Neptune, a renowned deep-sea explorer. He sought a bride known for her wisdom and grace. Coral straightened her kelp gown. "I must impress him!" Pearl fretted. "What if I say something wrong?" Shelly, ever the optimist, simply giggled. "Don't worry! I'm sure he's just a big, handsome fish!"
Page 4
Prince Neptune arrived in a submersible shaped like a giant seahorse. He was regal and charming. He asked each sister a riddle: "What is always coming, but never arrives?" Coral, lost in romantic fantasies, stammered, "Uh... a love letter?" Pearl, overwhelmed with anxiety, blurted, "Doom!" Shelly, in her infinite silliness, declared, "Tomorrow, of course! Everyone knows that!"
Page 5
The Prince, though surprised by Shelly's answer, admitted it was technically correct. He then proposed a test: each sister must perform a simple household task to prove her domestic abilities. Coral, tasked with sorting pearls by size, got distracted imagining her wedding gown and mixed them all up. Pearl, asked to mend a fishing net, became so worried about tearing it further that she froze in place. Shelly was asked to fetch water.
Page 6
Shelly, delighted, raced to the well, placed the basket on her head, and began to fill it. As she turned to return, she saw a crab scuttling with a glowing coin. Distracted, she followed, thinking it would make a fine addition to her hair. She chased the crab into the forest.
Page 7
Hours passed. Coral's romantic fantasies evaporated when she saw the mixed pearls. Pearl's panic dissolved when she realized her fears were unfounded. Prince Neptune approached them, shaking his head. "Where is your sister?" he asked. They realized Shelly had been gone for too long. The Great Bloom flickered dimly.
Page 8
Deep within the kelp forest, Shelly finally caught the crab and claimed her shiny coin. Suddenly, she remembered the water, the test, and the Great Bloom. As Albert Einstein famously said, "'The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it,' and she hadn't done anything about it," she said aloud, dropping the coin. She raced back, now remembering the prophecy about the silly one.
Page 9
She raced back, slopping water everywhere, arriving just as the Great Bloom dimmed to almost nothing. Desperate, Shelly poured the remaining water into its roots. Nothing happened. Tears streamed down her face. Then, slowly, a single spark ignited within the Bloom, growing brighter and brighter until the village was bathed in its light once more.
Page 10
Prince Neptune, impressed by Shelly's genuine remorse and quick action, realized that true wisdom wasn't about intellect or control, but about the courage to fix one's mistakes. He chose Shelly as his bride. And so it was that the silliest sister saved the day, proving that sometimes, a little foolishness can lead to the greatest wisdom. A little bit of courage can always save the day.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
Questions and answers
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