The Octopus Who Got Out

Part One

Olive was a giant Pacific octopus. She lived in a big tank at the aquarium. She had eight long, soft arms.

One morning the workers found the tank lid loose. Olive was not inside. They found her in a bucket by the sink.

The next morning it happened again. Olive was fine, behind a box. The workers wondered how she did it.

Ben was a worker. "An octopus can squeeze through a tiny space," he said. "Olive only needs a little gap."

That night the workers hid and watched. Olive's arms crept out from under the lid. Her skin turned rock-colored to blend in.

She slid across the floor, as quiet as a shadow. Octopuses are mostly active at night. Olive was wide awake.

"I think she is bored," said Ben. "Octopuses are smart. Olive needs something to think about."

Next the workers put a shrimp in a clear jar. They screwed the lid on tight. They put the jar in Olive's tank.

Olive found the jar right away. She turned it, tapped it and twisted the lid. All night she worked at it.

Pop! The lid came off, and Olive ate her shrimp. She stayed in her tank, too busy to wander.