Steve - The Floatter

Once upon a meandering river, there lived an otter named Steve the Floatter—though most folks just called him “Steve.” He wasn’t always the confident cruiser you see today. In fact, when Steve was a pup, he discovered that swimming like the other otters was tiring. He’d paddle a little, but soon his paws would feel like overcooked noodles. Rather than fight the current, Steve came up with an idea: float everywhere!

Before long, Steve found he had quite the gift for drifting. He’d recline on his back, letting the gentle river carry him from one snack stop to another. Using a favorite smooth pebble, he’d crack open shellfish with a few quick taps—no rushing, no fuss. Why waste precious energy when the river was happy to do the traveling?

It wasn’t just about laziness, either. Some days, Steve woke up stiff and achy, and pushing through the water like everyone else felt impossible. But floating? That was always an option. In fact, it turned out to be a fantastic solution—he could preserve his strength while still adventuring. Whenever his otter friends formed a “raft,” Steve was right in the middle, holding paws with the group so nobody drifted off alone.

Before long, word of Steve’s chill approach spread to the rest of The Slack-Pack. They saw how he turned life’s challenges—like feeling worn out or needing a little help—into a chance to connect with his community and use clever tools. As Steve always says: “Work smarter, float easier!” And that’s exactly what he did, reminding anyone watching that taking it slow, asking for help, or using a handy gadget can be the key to gliding through life’s rapids.

So if you ever see a merry otter drifting by, pebble in paw, gently bobbing in the sunshine—give him a wave. That’s Steve the Floatter, and he’s proof that sometimes the best way forward is to lie back, float on, and let the river do the work.