Otter Chaos! by Michael Broad

feud.”
    â€œMe too,” said Sooty. “But they really can’t stand each other.”
    â€œI’ve never seen my grandpa so grumpy before,” added Woody.
    â€œMine neither,” said Sooty. “He keeps scowling.”
    â€œDon’t worry, young pups,” Grandma Maple consoled them as she helped the two little ones back to the bank with their baskets. “Those two were not always so crabby, and there may yet be hope for them.”
    It was time for what was probably the least exciting event, but it was the one Woody most wanted the Browns to win. And it had nothing to do with Cottonwood Lodge. This was Beanie’s event and he wanted her to show Coco and the twins how brilliant she was. He got to his sister just in time.
    â€œâ€¦ so if you lose, we’ll all be homeless,” Chestnut said to Beanie.
    â€œWe might as well start packing now!” added Nutmeg.
    â€œLeave her alone,” said Woody.
    â€œBut they’re right,” whispered Beanie. “If you add up the scores of the teams so far, the Blacks have won three events and we’ve only won two.”
    â€œBut there’s still Sooty’s and my underwater obstacle race to come,” said Woody, who had already counted and knew there were seven events in total. “It’s not over yet.”
    â€œBut if Beanie loses this one, it’ll be four wins to two, so even if you win the last one, we’ll still lose Cottonwood Lodge,” said Coco, fiddling with her lily headdress. She liked it so much she had decided to keep it on.
    â€œIt’s a shame she’s not competing in a ‘Huge Tail’ event,” said Chestnut. “She’d probably win that.”
    â€œOr eating,” said Nutmeg. “She’d win at eating.”
    â€œI won my event,” said Coco, just in case anyone had forgotten.
    â€œIt doesn’t matter who wins,” said Woody, getting cross with his older siblings. “And it won’t be Beanie’s fault if we lose. We’re competing as a family and we’re all doing our best.”
    â€œBut—” said the twins.
    â€œBeanie was cheering more loudly than anyone during the volleyball,” Woody interrupted. “And she carried on cheering even when you didn’t win, because that’s what families do!”
    He braced himself, ready for the twins and his big sister to pounce on him, as they usually did when he argued with them, but this time they did something completely unexpected.
    â€œSorry, Beanie,” said the twins, looking genuinely apologetic.
    â€œYeah, I’m sorry too,” added Coco, patting her little sister’s head. “And we promise not to blame you when you don’t win.”
    â€œOh, shut up, stinky bottom!” said Woody, and he grabbed Beanie’s paw and ran off towards the pool for her event, shouting over his shoulder, “Beanie is going to win!”
    â€œOoo, you little…!” shrieked Coco, chasing after him.
    At the pool, Coal was already in the water, so Beanie jumped in too. Woody joined the other brown otters, keeping his distance from Coco, who had arrived with the twins just in time.
    â€œThis event is to see who can hold their breath underwater for the longest time,” said Grandma Maple, standing on the edge of the pool as she introduced the two shy contestants. “Are you both ready to begin?”
    Beanie and Coal nodded and smiled.
    â€œThen the last one up is the winner!” said Maple, lifting her shell-horn.
    HOOOOOONK!
    Beanie and Coal breathed in deeply and slowly submerged, swimming down to the bottom of the pool where they sat, cheeks bulging, as they held their breath. Occasionally they waved at each other, but mostly they peered up towards the light, at the silhouettes of their families, who were all waving at them and cheering them on. Beanie felt proud seeing Coco and the twins rooting for her, but the loudest cheers