There once was a man who lived in a house by the sea. He loved to lay in the sun and watch the ships pass by. One day, he noticed that one of the ships had a problem. The ship was listing to one side and its heel was getting lower and lower. The man knew that if the ship did not correct its keel, it would eventually jettison into the ocean.

He jumped into his boat and rowed over to the ship. When he got there, he saw that the crew was trying to hoist a heavy load onto the deck. The man offered to help, and together they were able to get the load safely on deck. The man then suggested that they lay the ship's keel back on an even keel. With a little effort, the crew was able to do this.

The man was welcomed aboard the ship, and the crew showed him around. They took him to the mess where they all sat down to eat a meal together. The man was happy to have helped the crew, and he went back to his house feeling proud of what he had done.

The end.

Reflections

1. Why do you think the man offered to help the ship in trouble?
2. How did the crew feel about the man's help?
3. What was the man's feeling after helping the ship and spending time with the crew?
4. Why do you think the man lived by the sea?
5. Can you think of a time when you helped someone in need?