Dedicated to Bob and Roberta Powell.

Once upon a time, on an island off of Antarctica, lived a very happy family of penguins. Two of the penguins, Penelope and Pearl, were proud to be parents to three beautiful children, whom they named Poppy, Piper, and Pippa. 

One day, Penelope announced that she had some exciting news. "Your father and I think you three children are old enough for your first swimming lesson."

"Yay!" Poppy and Piper squealed. "Let's go!" they shouted, jumping up and down.

But Pippa just clung to her mother. "I don't want to go, Mommy."

"You'll have fun, Pippa, I promise!" said Mommy.

But Pippa didn't think so. 

In her mind danced thoughts of dangerous creatures lurking below the sea surface...sharks, sea serpents, monsters...spooky things with teeth and claws... just waiting to eat her up. 

The penguin family came to the edge of an ice shelf. "Alright, children, the first step in learning how to swim is flapping your wings."

Poppy and Piper squealed and begin to flap their wings in a swimming motion. But Pippa still clung to her mother. "I'm scared! I don't want to swim in the cold water. There's...there's monsters!"

Mommy couldn't help laughing. "There are no monsters, I promise. You have nothing to worry about."

Pippa's eyes were still wide. "Are you sure, Mommy? What about those big things with teeth?"

"Don't worry about them," Mommy smiled, "sharks don't live around here."

As the penguins reached the edge of the ice shelf, Poppy and Piper jumped in. "Come on, Pippa!" Poppy yelled. 

"It's so fun!" Piper cried, hitting the water with a humungous SPLAAASH! She immediately began to flap her wings, and began swimming like an expert in no time. "Your turn, now, Pippa!"

But Pippa did not budge. "The water is so deep though! What if I sink?"

"You won't sink, Pippa," Poppy encouraged. "See, even the fishes don't sink."

"All you have to do is flap your wings like I showed you," said Mommy, "and you'll be swimming in no time."