In the heart of the Big Green Swamp lived a little crocodile named Croc. Now, Croc was unlike the other young crocodiles. While they practiced looking fierce and snapping their jaws with a loud CLACK, Croc preferred to float on his back and watch the fluffy clouds drift by. He loved to make silly faces at his reflection in the water and sometimes, when no one was looking, he would blow watery bubbles just for fun.
The older crocodiles would grumble, "Croc! Stop that silliness! A proper crocodile is strong and quiet!" But Croc just couldn't help it. Sometimes, when he tried to creep silently through the reeds like the others, he'd accidentally trip over his own tail with a splash! And instead of a fearsome snap, his jaw would sometimes get stuck open in a funny grin.
This made Croc feel a little bit lonely. He wanted to fit in, but being fierce felt prickly and uncomfortable, like wearing a shell that was too tight. He was much better at giggling when a dragonfly tickled his nose or doing a wobbly dance on a lily pad. Was there something wrong with him for not being a typical snappy crocodile?
One afternoon, feeling a bit glum, Croc was trying (and failing) to sneak up on a water skipper. He did a funny little jump instead of a pounce and landed right next to a patch of sparkling stones he'd never noticed before. They were smooth and colourful, unlike anything else in the swamp. Excited, he forgot all about sneaking.
A little yellow butterfly, Buttercup, fluttered down and landed on Croc's snout. She wasn't scared at all! She saw his funny grin and said, "Oh, you're not like the other serious swamp creatures! You're fun!" Buttercup had seen Croc's silly antics before and thought they were wonderful. She loved his bubble-blowing and his wobbly dances.
Soon, a slow, gentle tortoise named Shelly joined them. Shelly had seen many seasons in the swamp and knew that everyone had their own way of being. She liked Croc's kind eyes and the cheerful way he splashed. They spent the rest of the afternoon together, not hunting or hiding, but simply enjoying the sunshine and the colourful stones Croc had found.
Croc realised that being different wasn't a bad thing at all. His silliness had led him to new friends who liked him just the way he was, floppy tail, funny grin, and all. He didn't need to be fierce or quiet. He was good at being Croc.
As the sky turned soft shades of pink and orange, Croc felt warm and happy inside. He snuggled down in his muddy bed, not dreaming of snapping or creeping, but of playing bubble games and sharing sunny afternoons with his new friends. The Big Green Swamp needed all kinds of creatures, and a silly, friendly crocodile like Croc was just right.