Ocean heard the whole story the next morning.

He heard how people had begun to mutter, and laughed. The children had really outdone themselves this time.

Then he heard which bottle Sophie had used.

He stopped laughing.

He found the children behind the shed.

“Show me.”

Sophie pointed to the highest shelf.

Ocean took the bottle down.

“Oh,” he said.

Sophie would have preferred a longer sentence.

“We were careful.”

“I see.”

“We only put air in.”

“An ambitious choice.”

Wind stood up.

“She knew the forecast. We were playing. Then the calm lasted.”

Ocean looked at Sophie.

“And now everybody says you’re keeping it.”

Sophie nodded.

“Have you told them about the forecast?”

“No.”

Ocean turned the bottle in his hands.

“Well,” he said. “Tell them you did wrong and we ought to let it out where there’s room, in the open ocean.”