Jonas Bear & The Little Otter: Rainbow Bridge

Jonas Bear lives on a lovely, small island.
The island is two kilometers from the shore and only accessible by boat.
He loves his quiet and peaceful home, where nothing ever disturbs him.

Most animals stay on the shore.
Because there is no bridge to the island and the trip across the water seems too far.
Jonas doesn’t mind—he enjoys keeping social distance.

But one morning, as Jonas sits by the water, he sees something unusual.
A little otter is floating toward his island.

The otter paddles closer and climbs onto the shore.
“Hello, Jonas!!” she chirps. “I’ve heard about your island. It looks wonderful!!”

Jonas blinks. He isn’t used to visitors.
“Hello,” he answers politely. “How did you get here?”

“I swam, of course!” the otter says.
She shakes off the water and looks around. “It’s so peaceful here. But it must be hard to visit friends.”

Jonas shrugs. “I don’t mind.”

The otter tilts her head. “Well, I do! I think you need a bridge!”

Jonas watches as the little otter gathers driftwood and strong vines.
She hums a happy tune as she works.

Day by day, plank by plank, she builds a wooden bridge.

Jonas isn’t sure how he feels about this.
A bridge means anyone could come.
Would he still have his peaceful island?

But when the bridge is finished, the otter smiles up at him.
“Now your friends can visit,” she says. “But only if you want them to.”

Jonas looks at the bridge. It stretches across the water, two kilometers long.
And it is painted in rainbow colors.

He thinks. “Maybe—just maybe—having a bridge isn’t so bad.”

And for the first time in a long while, Jonas smiles.