Once upon a time, on a warm and sandy beach, there lived a little hermit crab named Monty.
Monty had a problem.
His shell was too small.
He had grown right out of it overnight. 🦀
His bottom was cold.
His back was bare.
And every time a seagull flew overhead, Monty ran in fourteen different directions at once.
“I need a new shell,” said Monty. “Right now. Immediately. TODAY.”
🐚 Too Big, Too Small, Too Wobbly
Monty found a long white shell by the rock pool.
He tried it on.
Way too long. He tipped right over.
Bonk.
He found a round pink shell near the seaweed.
Too round. He rolled down the beach.
Wheeeee — bonk.
He found a big grey shell near the pier.
Too heavy. He couldn’t move at all.
He just sat there.
Like a small, grumpy rock.
“Nothing fits,” Monty groaned. “Nothing in the whole ocean fits me.”
🌊 A Friend on the Beach
Charlotte was collecting shells in a red bucket when Monty came scuttling by, bare and bothered.
“Little crab!” said Charlotte. “Where is your house?”
“I don’t have one,” said Monty sadly. “I’ve tried every shell on the beach. None of them are right.”
Charlotte sat down in the warm sand.
“What does right feel like?” asked Charlotte.
Monty thought.
“Not too tight. Not too loose. Not too heavy. Not too wobbly.” He paused. “Warm inside. And safe.”
Charlotte looked in the red bucket.
And there at the very bottom, half covered in wet sand, was a shell.
Creamy white with a little pink swirl. 🐚
Not too big. Not too small.
Just sitting there. Waiting.
🏠 Just Right
Charlotte picked it up gently and set it down in front of Monty.
Monty walked around it three times.
He sniffed it.
He tapped it with one claw.
Then very slowly, very carefully, he backed himself in.
One leg. Two legs. Three legs. Four.
His whole soft body slipped inside.
He wiggled.
He settled.
He was quiet for a moment.
“Oh,” said Monty.
“Oh, this is it.”
He popped his head out, eyes wide and shining.
“This is my home!”
Charlotte laughed with delight and clapped sandy hands together.
Monty did a very small, very happy crab dance on the spot.
Tap tap tap tap tap tap. 🦀
🌅 Home at Last
Monty wore his new shell all the way to the water’s edge.
He dipped his claws in the cool waves.
His shell felt warm behind him.
Safe.
Exactly right.
He turned back to Charlotte.
“How did you know?” he asked.
Charlotte shrugged and smiled.
“I just looked carefully.”
Monty thought that was very wise indeed.