'The Kissing Pond'

"You want me to play with fish? Cold, slimy, boring fish?" Melanie winced at the thought. "I'm talking about friends!"

She looked out the window and saw the koi shimmer as they moved fluidly through the water. They are pretty, she thought. She remembered the lady who sold them the house said koi bring their owners good luck.

Melanie went outside. The colorful koi swam through the bright yellow and pink lilies. They came up to her many times and seemed happy just to have her there.

Her mom brought her some fish food. "They will eat right out of your hand."

"Really?" Melanie asked and took the treats.

A big white koi took the food from her. Its face and mouth felt soft as silk as it nibbled on her fingers. The others looked like colorful swimming flowers.

One fish swam on top of a lily pad to get the tasty treats Melanie had tossed into the pond. Out of the water, the body of the koi looked like a golden living jewel. Another leaped up and splashed down in front of her. Others sucked at the natural algae around the pond, making smooching sounds.

"Look Mom," Melanie laughed. "They're kissing the pond!"

The next day she used the school computer to find out as much as she could about koi.

That afternoon her teacher asked, "Melanie, what is your favorite thing about your new home?"

"My fish," Melanie said.

"Go on," the teacher said.

"Koi are very smart," Melanie explained. "When one gets sick, the other fish will help it try to swim. They will walk along the water's surface on their caudal fin in back. And they like to sleep under lily pads."

A girl named Lisa said, "You make koi sound so interesting. Could I come and see them?"

Another girl, Kim, waved to Melanie. "I have the cutest tabby kitten. You can come play with him if you'll let me visit your koi."

"Sure." Melanie smiled at her and decided the lady who sold them the house was right. Koi do bring their owners good luck.

And for Melanie, two special new friends.

Hear this story read aloud at www.latimes.com/kids or by calling (800) LATIMES, Ext. 4KIDS ([800] 528-4637, Ext. 45437).