Octupus by Aronoff

The Octupus' Garden by Alex Aronoff

In the past, my family used to take summer vacations to Mexico or the Caribbean. On one such trip to Cozumel, I learned a valuable lesson for life. I learned that it is necessary to keep track of one's goals.
That day, my parents, my brother, and my father's childhood friend (who can be considered my godfather) were out scuba diving in the bay. But, I, being too young to have been certified to scuba dive, could not go with them, and had to snorkel in the hotel's lagoon with my godmother. The bottom of the lagoon was covered with assorted rocks, most of which were round, grey, and about the size of a grown man's fist. Somehow, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a movement between the rocks on the sea bottom.
I looked towards the movement I believed I had seen, but could not see any living creatures among the rocks. But, being the patient child, and having nothing else to do, I made it my goal to find the creature I thought I had seen. Suddenly, underneath me, as I was floating face down on the surface, I noticed the movement again, but this time it had a shape. The creature was round and grey, but at a closer inspection, I saw that the little living ball had small white spots.
The creature became startled when I got too close, and started to flee. The chase was on. I swore I would not let the little creature get away. After following it for a few moments, I realized that I was stalking a tiny octopus that was probably more afraid of me, than I was interested in it. Being so young, and easily excited, I just had to appease my urge, to let my godmother know of my great accomplishment in identifying the creature as an octopus. But when I looked back down into the water, after telling my godmother what I had seen, I was shocked to find that the octopus I so diligently annoyed, was gone.
That day in the lagoon, I lost track of my goal both figuratively and literally. Literally, the octopus got away, and figuratively, I had not satisfied my curiosity. I learned that day, that it is wiser to reach goals first, and then enjoy the accomplishments, than to boast before the goals are even met.