Page 22 of Mail Order Splash

“Yes, but so did Ariel when she was granted time on land.”

“Stop it, you’re making it worse.”

“You started it with your fantasy. Now we have proof you spend too much time in the water with animals.” He reached for more pizza.

“I need to go through a few more boxes of stuff in that little apartment of Granddad’s.”

“Bring them out here and we can watch a movie. You want help with it?”

“No, it’s mostly personal stuff. I have to make ‘save’ and ‘get rid of’ piles.”

“He passed away. Isn’t everything a get rid of?”

“No! For example, I have the letter he wrote me to be read when he died.”

“I wasn’t aware you had that still. I guess keep it, unless it makes you too sad.”

“I can’t believe you, Josh. Why would you even think I would toss that?”

“I didn’t. I was trying to make you mad so you wouldn’t get emotional.”

“I forgot that you do that. Thanks.”

We decided to watch a movie on my laptop, then feed Netty. She was our only patient at the moment, thankfully, as I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep any fed. In fact, I had already made the decision to get rid of my apartment and live full time at the seaquarium. My granddad had made himself a small living space opposite the office for when he had to stay with a hurt animal. After my grandma passed away, he lived there full-time. As a little girl, I played in that apartment countless hours while my dad and he worked. It was only when I was a teenager that I realized he actually lived there, which I had found to be super cool until my dad gave me a letter from my granddad after his passing. I sat next to the box staring at the letter while Josh went for drinks, then pulled it out to read it as I had so many times.

‘My dearest sweet Kleine,

The fact that you are reading this means I have left to be with Grandma. Do not be sad, as I have been wanting to be with her for many years. All you need to remember now is that you have always been my greatest joy, besides rescuing animals. Your wanting to learn everything I knew to take over some day were the happiest days of my life. The trust I have left for you will cover your medical degree and the running of the seaquarium for a few years. After that, it will be up to you to carry on its legacy. If the day ever comes that it isn’t your biggest dream, then I give you my warmest wishes to let it go and follow what makes you happy.

In the meantime, the one request I have is that you find life outside of it. Do not be like me and make it all you do and, definitely, do not live there. I know right now you are shaking your head that I would request this because I did not do as I have said here for you to do, but I want more for you. So, I beg of you to hear me and live outside of the seaquarium, see people that don’t work there, laugh and have fun with humans. Treat people as well as you treat the dolphins. If you must, pretend they need saving, but don’t wrap them in netting to achieve that goal. Don’t ever give up on your desire to be an aquatic veterinarian. I do believe it is your calling. You will forever be my special girl and I know you will do the right things in life. I know the seaquarium is in the safest hands, as are all sea life anywhere near you.

Love always and forever, Granddad.’

“Hey, where’d you go?” Josh shook my arm.

“Sorry. All of a sudden, I was thinking about that letter Granddad left me.” I swiped at a tear running down my cheek. “I suppose I’ve been thinking about him lately.”

“You know he said it was okay to let it go.” Josh sat next to me. “I knew him a long time and he never said something he didn’t mean.”

“I know he did, but that was if it wasn’t my dream.” I moaned. “It is my dream, Josh. I just can’t seem to save it for him. I’ve done a bad job and he would be so disappointed.”

“Nonsense, there is no way he could know all those years ago that the city would change so much, or that they would try and lean on you to sell.”

“I guess.”

“Kleine, you’ve put every ounce of yourself into this place. You didn’t even finish your internship so you could put the rest of the money into it.” He paused then went on. “One more thing, Kleine, you do remember that you finished. You are a doctor.”

“That’s another thing. He desperately wanted me to get my degree and save it. I haven’t come through for him on either.”

“Come here, let me hug you.” He put his arms around me. “Do you need to cry it out?”

“No, I’m good. It was a minor blip.”

“Great. I hate it when you act like a mushy girl. It freaks me out.” He squeezed my shoulders, smiling.

“Same. Remember that time you cried for two days ‘cause your football team lost in the playoffs?”

“Hey, woo, that was devastating.”

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