THE CURIOUS CRAB THE DAY WAS CRYSTAL CLEAR, AND THERE WAS A FRESH BREEZE

I CAME OUT OF MY HOLE AND STRETCHED. I LOOKED AT SHINING SAND, AND I SAW MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS OUT ENJOYING THE FRESH AIR.

ONE BY ONE, ALL OF US SMILED AT EACH OTHER: WE WERE CRABS ON OUR OWN BEACH.

ONE OF THE CRABS WAS ROLLING HIS EYES ALL AROUND; SUDDENLY, HE SAW THE SAND FLYING, SIGNALLING THAT A CROWD WAS APPROACHING. WE STOOD AT ATTENTION. WE KNEW THAT THE BABBLE OF VOICES WAS A SIGN OF DANGER, AND THAT WE SHOULD INMEDIATELY LOOK FOR PROTECTION. ALL OF THE CRABS JUMPED AGILY INTO THEIR HOLES, BUT I SAT LISTENING CAREFULLY, FASCINATED BY THE LEAPING, ENTHUSIASTIC SOUND OF CHILDREN'S VOICES, "MAMI! PAPI! THERE ARE CRABS OVER HERE! HERE'S ONE!"

FOR A MOMENT, I DISOBEYED MY INSTINCT; I WAS ALMOST PARALYZED BETWEEN THE NOISE AND MY CURIOSITY. WHEN I WANTED TO REACT TO THE NEARBY DANGER, IT WAS TOO LATE: THEY HAD ME SURROUNDED. THEY HAD COVERED UP THE ENTRANCE TO MY HOUSE, AND THE VOLUME OF THEIR VOICES WAS GETTING LOUDER, "GRAB HIM! I COVERED UP HIS HOLE!"

"HURRY! HE WON'T BITE YOU!" "I'VE GOT HIM! HE'S IN MY HANDS!" ALL WAS LOST; I WAS A PRISONER IN SOME FAT, NERVOUS FINGERS THAT GRABBED MY CLAWS AND PRESSED ON MY SHELL. MY FUTURE WAS QUICKLY BECOMING DOUBTFUL. I FELT THE HANDS SUDDENLY PICK ME UP.

THE SOUND OF THE OCEAN DROWNED OUT THEIR LAUGHTER; THE SMELL OF THE SAND GOT MIXED WIRH THE SMELLS OF THE SUNTAN LOTIONS AND CREAMS. THE AIR SMELLED STRANGE, AND I FELT CONFUSED. THEN I HEARD: "LET EVERYBODY LOOK AT HIM! LET'S TIE HIM UP SO HE CAN'T ESCAPE!"

"BE CAREFUL NOT TO SQUASH HIM!" "I HAVE A PIECE OF STRING; TIE HIM TIGHT BY ONE OF HIS LEGS! "OK. LET'S TAKE HIM FOR A WALK!"

EL CANGREJO CURIOSO EL DA ERA SOLEADO Y CLARO, Y HABA UNA BRISA FRESCA

YO SAL DE MI AGUJERO REDUCIDO. MIRE LA ARENA BRILLANTE, Y VI A MIS AMIGOS Y VECINOS FUERA DISFRUTAR DEL AIRE FRESCO.

UNO A UNO, NOS REIAMOS DE NOSOTROS MISMOS: STABAMOS TODOS EN NUESTRA PROPIA PLAYA.

UNO DE LOS CANGREJOS ESTABA OBSERVANDO ALREDEDOR; DE REPENTE, VIO VOLAR LA ARENA, SEALANDO QUE UNA MUCHEDUMBRE SE ACERCABA. NOSOTROS ESTBAMOS ATENTOS. SUPIMOS QUE LA CHARLA ERA UNA SEAL DE PELIGRO, Y QUE DEBEMOS BUSCAR INMEDIATAMENTE PROTECCIN. TODOS LOS CANGREJOS SALTAMOS CON AGILIDAD DENTRO DE SUS HOYOS, PERO ESCUCHE CUIDADOSAMENTE, FASCINADO POR LOS SALTOS, ENTUSIASMADO POR LAS VOCES DE LOS NIOS DICIENDO: "MAMI! PAPI! HAY CANGREJOS AQU! AQU HAY UNO! "

POR UN MOMENTO, DESOBEDEC MI INSTINTO; YO CASI ME PARALIC ENTRE EL RUIDO Y MI CURIOSIDAD. CUANDO YO QUISE REACCIONAR AL PELIGRO CERCANO, ERA DEMASIADO TARDE: ELLOS ME TENAN RODEADO. ELLOS HABAN CUBIERTO A LA ENTRADA A MI CASA, Y EL SONIDO DE SUS VOCES ESTABA ACOSANDOME RUIDOSAMENTE Y DECIA: "AGRRENLO! CUBR SU AGUJERO YA! "

"D PRISA! L NO MORDER! " "YA LO TENGO! EST EN MIS MANOS! " ESTABAMOS PERDIDOS; YO ERA UN PRISIONERO EN UN POCO DE GRASA, DEDOS NERVIOSOS QUE AGARRARON MIS GARRAS Y APRETARON EN MI CARAPACHO. MI FUTURO ESTABA PONINDOSE DUDOSO RPIDAMENTE. YO SENTA LAS MANOS DE REPENTE RECOGERME.

EL SONIDO DEL OCANO SE AHOG, SOLO OIA RISAS; EL OLOR DE LA ARENA SE MEZCL, LOS OLORES DE LAS LOCIONES DEL BRONCEADO Y CREMAS SOLARES. EL AIRE OLI EXTRAO, Y YO ME SENTA DESCONCERTADO. ENTONCES O: "PERMITANOS MIRARLO! ATMOSLO PARA QUE NO PUEDA ESCAPAR! " "TENGA CUIDADO PARA NO APLASTARLO! " "YO TENGO UN PEDAZO DE CORDN; TELO FIRME POR UNA DE SUS PIERNAS! "OK. TOMMOSLO PARA UN PASEO! "