The Girl and the Manta Ray

Maya loves the ocean and spends every morning on the beach with her yellow rash guard, red snorkel mask and waterproof notebook. One day a huge dark shape glides beneath the surface: a manta ray with a diamond-shaped body wider than a rowboat. Instead of fleeing, the ray circles her and stays, and Maya notices a thin woven seaweed band around one fin tip. She names her Pearl and begins to visit her every day.

As their friendship grows, Pearl reveals a secret coral garden and rolls over to show her white belly, while Maya fills her notebook with observations about how curious, gentle and intelligent manta rays are. When a tourist boat roars toward Pearl and the frightened ray darts away, Maya understands that loving these animals is not the same as knowing how to protect them. This tale by Çınar BİBER can be read on Masalcı Baba.