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Cameron woke up to a bright, sunny morning. At the foot of her bed sat two familiar faces.
Riggs wagged his tail. Leo bounced in circles. "Good morning!" barked Leo. "Are you ready for an adventure?" asked Riggs. Cameron smiled. "I was hoping you'd ask." "Our first stop," said Riggs, "is the Mystic Aquarium."
The beluga whales glided through the water. "They're so beautiful," whispered Cameron. One swam right up to the glass. "I think she's saying hello," Cameron giggled.
Leo pressed his nose against the window. "I wonder if she'd like to play frisbee." "I don't think whales play frisbee," laughed Riggs.
Next came the seals. Splash! Splash! Splash! "They're so fast!" said Cameron.
Leo's tail wagged faster and faster. "I could swim that fast!" "You could certainly try," said Riggs. "But maybe stay on this side of the glass."
Soon they were walking through Mystic Seaport. Tall wooden ships stretched toward the sky. "They're huge!" said Cameron. "They sailed the seas long ago," said Riggs. Leo sniffed the dock.
"No squirrels?" "Not today," said Riggs. Then they climbed aboard the steamboat Sabino. As the boat floated down the river, the drawbridge slowly lifted. "It's opening just for us!" shouted Cameron. Everyone waved as they sailed underneath.
By lunchtime, they were strolling down Main Street. Something smelled delicious. "Cookies!" Cameron said. She hurried into Sift and picked out a warm chocolate chip cookie.
Riggs waited patiently for a crumb to drop. Leo watched Cameron's every bite. "I think you two deserve a treat," said Cameron. She asked for two dog biscuits. Crunch! Crunch! Both dogs wagged their tails.
Their next stop was the Nature Center. An owl blinked from a nearby branch. Tiny turtles rested on warm rocks. A fox curled up for an afternoon nap. “The people here help animals that are hurt,” explained Riggs.
"So they can get better?" asked Cameron. "That's the hope," said Riggs. "I like people who help," Cameron said softly. "So do I," said Riggs. Leo nodded. His eyes were fixed on the squirrels scurrying from tree to tree.
“Easy, Leo,” said Riggs. “They’re safe here, you don’t want to scare them.” Leo took one careful step. Then another. Riggs cleared his throat. Leo froze. "Worth a try," he whispered.
As the sun began to set, they followed the river back toward the drawbridge. The air smelled salty... ...and just a little bit like waffle cones. Cameron smiled. "Ice cream?" Riggs grinned. "Ice cream."
Cameron chose vanilla with rainbow sprinkles. Leo happily licked a pup cup. "This," he declared, "has been an excellent day."
When they arrived home, Cameron yawned. "What was your favorite part?" asked Riggs. "The whales," said Cameron. "The cookie," said Leo. Riggs laughed. "I liked watching the two of you."
Cameron climbed into bed. Outside, the evening was quiet. She thought about the whales, the ships, the books, the animals, and the ice cream. "There are so many adventures in Mystic," she whispered.
Riggs curled up beside her. Leo gave one last sleepy sigh. "Goodnight, Mystic," Cameron whispered. "Until our next adventure."