At the little Harbor, boats went bob, bob, bob.
Dominic was a tiny ninja. He wore soft blue shoes. He had a round hood and a small red scarf. Dominic could tiptoe very quietly.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
He liked to help. He helped sailors carry apples. He helped crabs find their sand holes. He even helped sleepy gulls get home before dark.
One bright morning, Moon Child came down from the pale sky. Moon Child had silver curls and a yellow coat. In their hands was a shiny shell.
“Look!” said Moon Child. “My moon shell sings a bedtime song.”
The shell went, “Loo-loo, loo-loo.”
Everyone at the Harbor smiled.
Then, whoosh! A big red sail came around the rocks.
It was Pirate Puck. He wore a crooked hat. His boots went clomp, clomp, clomp. Pirate Puck loved shiny things very much.
“Oho!” he said. “A singing shell for me!”
He grabbed the moon shell and sailed away.
Moon Child’s eyes got wet. “My shell is gone.”
Dominic put one small hand on Moon Child’s hand. “Do not cry,” he said. “I will help.”
A kind green glow floated from the old Harbor lamp. It was Guardian Spirit. Guardian Spirit was gentle and wise. He had a warm voice, like a blanket.
“Brave Dominic,” said Guardian Spirit, “the pirate boat is going to Misty Rock. But the mist is thick.”
Under Dominic’s feet, a black shape wiggled.
“I know mist!” whispered Living Shadow. Living Shadow was shy. He hid behind boxes and barrels. But he was very good at finding dark, twisty paths.
“Will you come?” asked Dominic.
Living Shadow made a little bow. “Yes. I am scared. But I can still come.”
“Me too!” said Moon Child.
Guardian Spirit gave Dominic a tiny lantern. “This lantern glows when friends help friends.”
Dominic climbed into a little blue boat. Moon Child held the oar. Living Shadow lay flat on the boat floor. Guardian Spirit floated above like a soft green star.
Row, row, row.
The Harbor grew small behind them. The sea went splash, splash, splash.
Soon they reached Misty Rock. White mist curled all around.
“I cannot see,” said Moon Child.
“I can,” whispered Living Shadow. “Follow my dark feet.”
Living Shadow stretched over the rocks. Step. Step. Step.
Dominic followed. Moon Child followed. The lantern began to glow.
On the other side of the rock was Pirate Puck’s boat. Pirate Puck sat on a barrel. He held the moon shell near his ear.
“Sing!” he said.
But the shell was quiet.
“Loo-loo?” Pirate Puck tried.
Still quiet.
Dominic did not shout. He did not kick. He tiptoed closer.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Pirate Puck looked sad. “It will not sing for me,” he grumbled.
Moon Child came near. “It sings when I am safe,” they said. “It is my bedtime shell.”
Pirate Puck looked at the dark water. “I wanted a pretty thing,” he said. “My boat has no pretty things.”
Dominic had an idea. Ninja Dominic was small, but his ideas were big.
He opened his little bag. Inside were three bright buttons, a blue feather, and a smooth gold pebble.
“We can make you a treasure flag,” said Dominic.
“Really?” asked Pirate Puck.
“Really,” said Dominic.
Moon Child gave one silver ribbon. Living Shadow made a funny pirate face on the flag. Guardian Spirit blew a warm puff of wind to help it flap.
Soon the flag was ready. It had buttons that twinkled, a feather that danced, and a smiling shadow pirate.
Pirate Puck laughed. “Ha! That is the best flag in all the Harbor!”
He gave the moon shell back to Moon Child.
“Sorry,” he said, very quietly.
Moon Child hugged the shell. “Thank you for giving it back.”
The shell began to sing.
“Loo-loo, loo-loo!”
The mist went away. The sea sparkled. Even Pirate Puck smiled.
Back at the Harbor, everyone cheered for Dominic.
Guardian Spirit placed a small treasure chest at Dominic’s feet. Inside was a real ninja bell, shiny and blue.
“When you help with a kind heart,” said Guardian Spirit, “ring this bell.”
Dominic rang it once.
Ting!
The gulls flew in a happy circle. The crabs danced sideways. Pirate Puck raised his new treasure flag.
Dominic smiled under his blue hood. He was a quiet ninja. He was a kind ninja. And now he had a shiny ninja bell.
That night, Moon Child’s shell sang over the little Harbor.
“Loo-loo, loo-loo.”
Dominic snuggled in bed. His blue bell rested beside him.
Outside, the boats went bob, bob, bob.
And all was safe.