One time when the otter family went swimming, Emily dressed up in her crocodile suit and scared her brother and sister.

“Emily,” said her mother, “You are otterly exasperating!”

Then there was the time Emily ate all the shellfish, even though it was supposed to be for everyone’s dinner.

“Emily,” said her father, “You are otterly annoying!”

And of course, there was the incident when Emily put a lobster in her brother’s bed, because she thought it would be funny.

“Emily,” said her brother, “You are otterly infantile!”

Emily was sick of being in trouble all the time. What would it take for people to trust her?

So, Emily didn’t put any more crustaceans in her brother’s bed … even though she really wanted to.

“There is definitely not a lobster in your bed,” she told him. “It looks like there could be, but it’s just a pillow.”

“Emily,” said her brother, “You are otterly aggravating!”

And when Emily saw a lovely big pile of shellfish in the fridge she didn’t eat it … even though she really wanted to.

“Dad, I didn’t eat the shellfish,” she said. “I just licked it a tiny bit.”

“Emily,” said her father, “You are otterly infuriating!”

And when the family went swimming, Emily didn’t pretend to be a crocodile … even though she really wanted to.

Instead, she practiced her backstroke.

But then she saw it.

Two dark eyes peering out of the water.

Two big jaws filled with sharp, jagged teeth.

“Crocodile!” She shouted. “CROCODILE!”

“Emily, stop clowning around.” said her mother. “You are otterly incorrigible!”

The two big jaws came closer . . . and closer . . .

And even though she didn’t want to, Emily put on her suit and swam up to the crocodile.

“Excuse me,” she said, in a deep, scratchy voice, “have you come here to eat these otters?”

“I sure have,” said the crocodile. “Don’t they look delicious? I’m going to eat them all up in one bite!”

“I’m sorry to burst your bubble,” Emily said in her crocodile voice, “But I got here first and they’re actually my lunch. Crocodile rules, you know.”

The crocodile stared deep into Emily’s eyes, and Emily stared right back.

“Sorry about the mix-up,” the crocodile said. “Enjoy your meal.”

The crocodile crept away, and Emily turned around to see her family staring at her.

She hung her head, ready to get told off once again.

But instead, her family clapped and cheered.

“Emily, you saved us!” said her mother. “You are otterly amazing.”