Song for a Whale

by Lynne Kelly

The plan made sense to Ms. Conn because she thought Nina was the smartest person in class, and Nina thought she knew sign language. She’d checked out a library book about it, so that made her an expert. Some people have the kind of confidence that lets them get away with being clueless.

Blue 55 didn’t have a pod of friends or a family who spoke his language. But he still sang. He was calling and calling, and no one heard him.

“He keeps singing this song, and everything in the ocean swims by him, as if he’s not there. He thinks no one understands him. I want to let him know he’s wrong about that.”