Katy Riddell
Written and illustrated by Katy Riddell
Serafina lived on the eastern coast of South Africa, with her grandpa, who had devoted his entire life to looking after the local marine wildlife and teaching people how it important it was. When Serafina grew up, she wanted to be just like him.
Her best friend was Harry. They spent almost all of their free time together, usually at the seashore.
Together, they would paddle through the clear, beautiful water, tending the seaweed gardens and helping to keep the coastal areas healthy.
Hey Serafina, come and give me a hand with this.
Another old fishing net –that’s three this week!
We’d better pull it out before some poor old creature gets tangled up in it.
You’re right. Luckily, it looks like nothing’s been caught so far except this nasty plastic bottle. We’d better take it with us too. Come on, the volunteers will be arriving soon.
Every week, Serafina’s grandpa organised a beach clean, where volunteers were invited to come and pick up litter along the shore.
How many volunteers today? Not many. I’d say even fewer than last time.
Yeah, I think you’re right. It’s been months now since we’ve had a good turnout! What will we do if one day nobody comes at all?
The beach cleans were Serafina’s favourite time of the week. She loved the feeling of making even the smallest bit of difference.
Hey Serafina! This plastic bag is moving!
It looks like something is inside it.
It’s a little baby turtle!
Oh no! The poor thing is stuck!
Horrible old plastic bags! Now, let’s point him in the right direction. That’s it, go and find Black Rock, you’ll be safe there.
I hate that this happens to the turtles. At least we manage to rescue some of the animals. Good luck, little turtle!
After the beach clean, Serafina and Harry went to see Grandpa. Race ya!
Grandpa, we rescued a baby turtle today!
Serafina, my little mermaid! And Harry! Well done both of you. It looks like you’ve collected a lot of rubbish too.
We have. Sometimes it feels like there’s more plastic in our oceans than fish.
Unfortunately, we aren’t far off from that being true.
We just have to keep trying our best to use less single-use plastic, right Grandpa?
Exactly, my dear. Ah, seeing as you’re here …
I have a very important job for you both. Are you up to it? Yes! What is it?
We have a professor coming to the island. She just called this morning to let me know. Professor Ranshore’s her name. I need you two to go and greet her.
I would go myself, but I have to finish up here. I’m sure she’d appreciate a warm welcome from you two!
Wow, sounds exciting! We’d love to do that, right, Harry?
Yeah for sure! RACE YA!
Maybe she’ll help us with some beach cleans.
Professor Ranshore! I’m Serafina and …
We can introduce you to the other volunteers.
… and I’m Harry! Nice to meet you.
Volunteers? Maybe later, there are other important things to get on with. I need to find Black Rock …?
Black Rock? But that’s way out at sea – getting there is incredibly dangerous. Grandpa says it’s much better for the wildlife if people don’t go there.
So your grandpa knows the exact location of Black Rock then?
Sure he does. Serafina’s Grandpa knows everything about this stretch of coast.
Where can I find your grandpa?
He’s just at the top of this hill in his office.
But, he’s busy. He told us to …
Excellent. You run along now and do whatever children do. I have scientific work to conduct.
There’s no way Grandpa will take her to Black Rock.
Doesn’t it seem a little bit weird to you?
What? Why not? She’s here to help, Serafina, you heard her. She’s here to o u heard her.
I mean, Black Rock, a protected area full of all sorts of endangered marine life, where the waters are unpredictable and dangerous. And she turns up on her own, barely any prior notice, no scientific team, not even any idea of how to actually get there?
Maybe she doesn’t need a team. She’s a professor, she just wants to study exotic creatures. I think you’re being weird.
