Путешествие через волны, травы и пески. Алёна Коссаковская

watching her students playing tag from a distance.

      The fish frolicked, not paying any attention to the bush which was approaching them.

      Only some time later, the most sharp-sighted Needle suddenly stopped dead in an upright position, as if she were Seahorse.

      – Oh! Teacher! What’s this? The bush is alive! How can it be?

      – Yes, it happens so, – Miss Swallow said quietly, so as not to frighten away another visual aid for the forthcoming lesson with a loud sound.

      – Tell me, please, – the fish asked together in a whisper.

      – Then let’s go to our classroom. The topic of today’s lesson is «Symbiosis».

      All the students, having linied up in a regular column, swam into the grotto, pondering over the tricky word just uttered by the teacher.

      ***

      – Which of you have seen live sharks? asked the teacher when everyone sat down at their stone desks.

      – Since everybody is in their place and nobody is missing, so no one has seen them! – Needle, the monitor, answered for the classmates.

      The teacher nodded in satisfaction and continued:

      – Sharks and other marine predators do not clean their terrible teeth and that is why there is plenty of food stuck between them.

      Therefore, our Dame Nature created cleaner fish that are not afraid to swim into the terrible toothy mouths and eat what is left as well as destroyed dead skin and ectoparasites that live on the bodies of large fish. This is the first example of symbiosis, when predators do not eat small relatives that are of use. The latter are content with light and tasty food. Thus both fish benefit from such friendship.

      – Is this symbiosis? – Needle, the excellent student, was raising the fin. The teacher did not answer her pet’s question and continued calmly:

      – Have you noticed that there is a newcomer in our class?

      Everyone started clamoring and began to examine the grotto. Finally, they have found a small fish hiding behind a rock in the farthest corner.

      – Octa, baby, come out here, let everyone see your front dorsal fin, – the teacher asked kindly.

      – Nope. I’m very shy, – a voice came from behind the stone.

      – Well, be a good fish, do not be afraid. Our students are kind. They won’t laugh. I assure you. Swim up to me quickly and show us something special that you and your parents have to travel quickly and, what is more important – safely, – Miss Swallow begged the new student.

      Octa approached the board, seized with her teeth a large bow of brown seaweed, which was on her head, and pulled it down.

      The aglae fell on the sand and everyone except the teacher gasped. On the back of the new student were… real… suckers.

      – Wow! They are cute! I want such suckers, too! How did you grow them? – Smelt blurted out in one breath, – share them with your friends right now!

      – Our Octa needs suckers in order to stick to the belly of a shark, – the teacher answered, – with the help of this unique suction cup her relatives stick to any large fish or large sea animal and swim using «free transportation’' which is both convenient and safe.

      – They eat what predators haven’t eaten up, – Jocky shouted from his seat.

      – Not at all! – the new student was offended and pouted her lips, – we, we… feed on planktonic organisms.

      – Is this also symbiosis? asked Hamsa.

      – Alas, it is not. Miss Swallow tapped the stone with her tail, calling everyone to silence… she wanted to add something else, but a living bush tumbled groaning into the classroom.

      – Let me introduce myself – Basil, the Hermit Crab, and on my back I have my best friend Basilia anemones. We have been living together for many years… I …am… Well, excuse my bad memory, I forgot what I wanted to say…my old age, you know.

      – Children, here is an example of «obligatory ‘’symbiosis, – the teacher continued answering for the guest, – first, completely different sea creatures find each other, then the crab «persuades» the sea anemone to move to its back. Poisonous Basilia protects him from parasites and predators, and Basil travels with her along the seabed, making it possible to find more food. Admit that, waiting for a long time for something tasty to swim by you is worse than coming to the delicacy yourself, and not walk, but ride on your friend’s back!