The Otter's Raincoat

The Otter's Raincoat Çınar BİBER

Once upon a time, by a bend in the river, lived a cheerful otter named Ollie. He wore a teal apron with a big front pocket and a yellow measuring tape around his neck. Ollie loved to invent things. His warm brown fur and cream belly were always dusted with bits of string and cloth. Every morning, he opened his little workshop and waited for ideas to float by like leaves on the water. 1

Not far away, under a hollow log, lived a tiny mouse named Millie. She had soft grey fur, pink inner ears, and a little red scarf. Her blue satchel held snacks for her adventures. Millie loved to play outside. But one day, dark clouds rolled in, and the rain came down in sheets. Millie watched from her doorway and sighed. 'I wish I could play in the rain,' she said. 2

Ollie saw Millie looking sad and paddled over. 'Don't worry, Millie!' he said. 'I'll make you a raincoat. A waterproof one!' Millie's eyes lit up. 'Really?' she squeaked. 'That would be wonderful!' Ollie pulled out his measuring tape and smiled. 'I'm great at making things,' he said. 'Just you wait!' And he hurried back to his workshop with a bounce in his step. 3

Ollie worked all afternoon. He cut and stitched and hummed a happy tune. Finally, he held up his first raincoat. It was blue and shiny and very, very big. 'Perfect!' he said. He carried it to Millie's log. But when Millie tried it on, the sleeves flopped over her paws, and the hood fell over her eyes. 'I can't see!' she giggled. 'And I can't move!' The raincoat was too big. 4

Ollie scratched his head. 'Don't worry,' he said. 'I'll make a smaller one.' He went back to his workshop and snipped and sewed. This time, he made a tiny yellow raincoat. 'This will fit!' he said. But when Millie tried it on, she couldn't even get one paw inside. 'It's too small,' she said gently. 'I can't wear it at all.' Ollie frowned. Making a raincoat was trickier than he thought. 5

Ollie didn't give up. 'I have another idea!' he said. He made a raincoat with big splashy flaps and a long, swishy tail. 'This one is extra waterproof,' he said. 'It will keep you dry and splashy!' But when Millie put it on, the flaps flapped in her face, and the tail dragged in every puddle. 'It's too splashy,' she said. 'I'm getting wetter than without it!' Ollie sighed. This was hard. 6

Millie looked at Ollie's sad face. She didn't want to hurt his feelings. 'Ollie,' she said softly, 'you are very kind to make me raincoats. But maybe I can tell you what I really need.' Ollie sat down on a mushroom. 'Yes, please,' he said. 'I want to help, but I don't know how.' Millie smiled. 'Let's think about it together.' 7

Millie closed her eyes and thought. 'A raincoat should be light,' she said. 'So I can run and jump.' She wiggled her tiny pink feet. 'It should be soft and comfy,' she went on. 'And it should cover my ears but not my eyes.' She touched her little nose. 'And it should not be too big or too small.' Ollie nodded and wrote everything down. 8

Ollie pulled out his yellow measuring tape. 'Let's measure you properly,' he said. He measured Millie's paws, her ears, and her tiny shoulders. 'Now I understand,' he said. 'A raincoat must fit just right.' Millie giggled as the tape tickled her whiskers. 'And it should be waterproof,' she reminded him. 'But not too splashy.' Ollie laughed. 'Got it!' 9

Back in the workshop, Ollie and Millie worked side by side. Ollie cut a soft, light fabric. Millie chose a bright green color. 'This will be a cape,' Ollie said. 'It will cover your ears and keep you dry, but your eyes will be free.' Millie held the fabric while Ollie stitched. They added a tiny hood and a button under the chin. It was starting to look just right. 10

Finally, Ollie held up the finished cape. It was green and shiny, with a soft hood and a little button. 'Try it on!' he said. Millie slipped it over her head. It was light as a feather. The hood covered her ears but not her eyes. The cape swished around her paws without tripping her. 'It's perfect!' she squeaked. 'I can move and see!' Ollie beamed with pride. 11

Millie ran outside and jumped in a puddle. The water bounced off her cape and rolled away. 'It's waterproof!' she cheered. She spun around and danced in the rain. Ollie watched from the doorway, his yellow measuring tape still around his neck. 'You look wonderful!' he said. Millie laughed. 'Thank you, Ollie! You are the best raincoat maker ever!' 12

But Millie didn't want to play alone. 'Come out, Ollie!' she called. 'The rain is fun!' Ollie hesitated. 'I don't have a raincoat,' he said. Millie grinned. 'Then let's make one for you!' So they went back to the workshop and designed a big teal cape for Ollie. It matched his apron. Soon, both friends were splashing in the rain, dry and happy. 13

From that day on, rainy days were the best days. Millie wore her little green cape and carried snacks in her blue satchel. Ollie wore his big teal cape and carried his tools in his pocket. They jumped in puddles and caught raindrops on their tongues. 'Rain is wonderful when you're prepared,' said Ollie. Millie nodded.