Once upon a time on a beach, there lived a horseshoe crab named Harold. He was known for his funny molting and always making his friends laugh. One day, while exploring the jetty, Harold met an arthropod named Archie who was feeling down. He had a disease that was causing him to erode away! Harold knew he had to help so he came up with a plan.

He convinced Archie to come to the shore during low tide, where they found a pile of discarded larva shells. Harold suggested that Archie wear one as a new suit of armor to protect himself from the disease. So, Archie put on the largest shell he could find, and to his surprise, it worked! The disease stopped eroding him and he was feeling better.

The next day, when the tide came in, Harold and Archie went for a swim in the ocean. The current was strong, but they were having so much fun that they didn't mind. Suddenly, they heard a loud noise, and to their surprise, it was a group of horseshoe crabs, all wearing larva shells, cheering for them!

From that day on, Harold and Archie were known as the “Larva Shell Heroes” and every year, they would gather all the horseshoe crabs on the beach and molt together, putting on the funniest larva shells they could find. They would laugh and play, and the disease never returned. The end.

Reflections

1. Why was Archie feeling down?
2. What did Harold suggest Archie do to stop the disease from eroding him?
3. What happened when Harold and Archie went for a swim in the ocean?
4. How did Harold and Archie become known as the "Larva Shell Heroes"?
5. Why did the disease never return after Harold and Archie put on the larva shells?