Pollution Prevention “Look at the fish! exclaimed little Tina. “Look how fast it swims. “Yeah. Fast,” said her older brother Nick with a bored look. “Can we go home now? There’s nothing interesting about this lake. There isn’t even a trash can here.” Nick tossed a plastic water bottle in the lake. The fish Tina was looking at swam away, frightened. “Stop, Nick!!!” shouted Tina. “The fish swam away!” “Whatever,” said Nick, leaning against a tree. The next day, Mrs. Baker told Nick to bring Tina back to the lake. “But MOM!” Nick whined. “Nicholas, your sister ENJOYED spending time with you there. Just go there for a couple of hours. Here, I made you guys lunch when you go there.” “Fine,” said Nick, taking the picnic basket. “I’ll take her.” When Tina and Nick arrived at the lake, Nick spread out a blanket and took the food Mrs. Baker gave them and set it on the picnic basket. While Tina and Nick were enjoying the PB and J sandwiches by the lake, Tina asked, “Nick, do you know where the garbage can is?” “There ISN’T any,” Nick replied. “Just toss it in the lake. The park ranger can take care of it.” “I don’t think that should go in the lake, Nick,” said Tina, shaking her head. “Is there anywhere else?” “Tina, just throw it in the lake. Who does it hurt, any ways?” “It hurts US, Nick,” said a strange voice. Nick glanced over at the water. It was a salmon. “Did you say that?” asked Nick to the fish. “Or am I just losing my marbles?” “You’re not, Nick,” said the fish. “Sure, it may not seem like a big deal to throw one little piece of garbage in this lake, but this lake is home to dozens of fish. What you would have done is made this an even more dangerous habitat.” “What?” asked Nick. “MORE dangerous???” “Yes,” said the salmon. “Many people have already polluted this lake, and much of my family has been sick and hurt. I’m already beginning to feel queasy. Yesterday, my Uncle was nearly hit by a bottle!” Nick hoped that hadn’t been his bottle. “Gee, I never thought it could have been so bad!” said Nick. “I’m SO sorry. What can I do to make it up to you???” “Well,” thought the salmon. “You can stop littering in the lakes, and maybe tell your friends to help! Our homes could be cleaner, and then I don’t have to live near a bunch of dirty socks anymore. Or, at least LESS dirty socks. But Nick, you could make a HUGE difference in our lives. One step at a time.” “Alright, I’ll try,” said Nick. “Thanks.” Three years later, Nick came back to that lake. Nick remembered the day he talked to that fish. Nick stared at the lake. It was so much cleaner than three years before, and he couldn’t believe that all happened “ONE STEP AT A TIME.” Lauren Hapgood CAM 5th Grade Mrs. Karlsen
Page 34