I was having a leisurely dinner at my favorite sea-food restaurant, "Father Neptune's" when my friend "Starry" Starfish (you will remember him from my "Twisted Claw" story) hurried up--looking very distraught.
"Hello, Starry." I said. "Is something the matter?"
"Something certainly IS the matter!" Starry said. "You have heard no doubt, Constable, of the famous rock music group, "The Seven Sardines" ?"
"Yes, I have, though I must admit I am not overly fond of their music." I honestly replied.
ONE OF THE SARDINES IS MISSING!" Starry blurted excitedly in one breath.
...
And THAT was the "Strange Case of the Twisted Claw".
You must admit it was QUITE a thrilling and unusual adventure.
But since you are still here, I suppose you are ready for another story--so I will thumb through my casebook for another one...
Ahhh yes! THIS one will do quite nicely!
It was one of my most intriguing cases.
I call it: "The Mystery of the Last Sardine".
...
You will want to know about Polly Polyp and "Starry" Starfish.
Polly rewarded Starry and I with big hugs for our brave journey to rescue her.
"I will forever be grateful to both of you for helping me!" she said, giving us each a very nice hug.
(It was the first time I had ever been hugged by a polyp and it was quite charming!)
I think Starry hoped to renew his earlier more intimate friendship--but he had to be satisfied with the hug because Polly waved goodbye and was off on a swift sea current.
We both knew that Polly WAS a solitary polyp in her heart and could not change her nature--which was to simply be alone most of the time.
So Starry and I made our way back home with the very good feeling that we had not only accomplished our mission--but had done it peacefully without hurting anyone.
...
Crawly Crustacean--the most feared of the lobster tribe--started a new life as an elder friend of Jellyfish.
He was much in demand as a story teller.
Young Jellyfish especially would crowd around begging to hear more tales of his exploits as a dashing young lobster.
And the last we heard of Crawly, he was well-liked by all, living an exemplary life and was starting to write his memoirs.
...
Though Polly was a "solitary" Polyp, she had made many friends among her Jellyfish relatives and she lost no time in explaining to them her problem--that is-- Crawly Crustacian's problem.
"Crawly is not really bad", she told them, "he has had some bad habits in the past but now he's just a lonely blind old lobster with a twisted claw.
He needs some friends and I am moving on--would some of you be willing to look in on him from time to time--and maybe read to him and occasionally bring him little presents for friendship's sake?"
Well everyone knows how soft hearted Jellyfish are!
They immediately agreed to befriend Crawly and promised Polly that she need have no fears about that.
They said being friends with old lobsters was one of the things they liked best of all and they could hardly wait to hear some of his stories about the old days when he was the terror of the seas!
...
"Here they come!" Starry and Polly shouted together.
And sure enough, Jellyfish by ones and twos and threes and dozens came drifting into sight on the fast sea current!
More and more and more Jellyfish!
Jellyfish!!
JELLYFISH!!!
It was a wonderful thing to see!
...
"OK," Polly said--"Stand back. I am going to broadcast a strong come hither call to my Jellyfish cousins on our family wavelength!
It only works for our Jellyfish Family, of course, so I couldn't use it to call for you to come rescue me--but HERE GOES!!"
...
