Page 36 of Mail Order Splash

“Now you’re pushing it, buddy. She is a patient, not a toy.”

“Wow, this place is huge, and not near as bad as you made it out to be.” Dalton followed close behind. “Seems mostly cosmetic, but further inspection can come later.”

“I’ve kept the important things like the tanks and pools in good condition, or best possible. The rescue is the most vital.”

“Is that Netty? Aunt Victoria, come see her.” He went down on his knees, “Her wounds have healed. Hi, girl.”

“You want to feed her?” I brought over the fish bucket. “She’s pretty mellow.”

I’d been working with her on commands the way generations before me had in order to communicate. She was responding amazingly already. I gestured for her to approach with her mouth open for food.

“How did she know I was going to feed her?” He pulled another fish from the bucket.

“I told her, like this.” I did it again in view for him to see. “She’s very smart and ready to leave us.”

“This must have been wonderful when visitors could come here. I can envision it. What a shame the city wants this for a high-rise instead of helping you keep a legacy to Miami alive.” Victoria pursed her lips. “We have to stop them and fill this once more.”

Thank you, God, thank you, Doc, for forcing me to go to that party.

“You have no idea how happy I am right now. Is she the only rescue here?” Dalton leaned into the water to pet Netty.

“At the moment, yes. We did two releases yesterday. You see, the goal is to get them back to their natural environment. Netty has a family waiting for her.”

“Is her pod still here? That is amazing.” He stood from feeding her.

“They are. As a matter of fact, tomorrow we are putting her in the outside holding area to see if her pod will come to her. She will call to them as they have been calling for her.”

“Please say I can be here for that. I’m begging.”

“You needn’t beg. There is nothing worse you can see, now.” I waved my arms around.

“What are these cots?” Victoria walked around, looking.

“We sleep here by the pool when we have a rescue in bad shape. They need round-the-clock assistance, and I’m overprotective.”

“Is that what he meant by you ‘live here’?” Dalton asked.

“Yes, I have an apartment. I don’t use it much, but I have it.”

“She means for now,” Josh cut in. “Don’t look at me like that, Kleine, they might as well know it all.”

“Let me give you the tour. You’ll see the facility is large. There once were classrooms for students to have field trips. You’ve already seen the arena where the shows took place, then we have backstage where the real work happens.”

“Show them the offices and apartment your granddad stayed in and my favorite room, the petting area,” Josh said cheerfully.

“Petting? As in people would pet the animals, the fish?” Aunt Victoria asked, surprised. “I had no idea that was a thing.”

We toured the old gift shop, the inner rooms, the petting area, and the parking lot.

“My granddad always wanted this to stay a garden where people could gather with family overlooking the water. Somewhere along the way, my dad and uncle made it this big ugly thing.” I waved my arms around. “I would take this down by half and return Granddad’s vision.”

“If this were to be a place as you describe in a city this large, you would need this parking. Perhaps a parking garage would work in the back section. Maybe have a shuttle on the weekends when it would be extra busy.” Dalton said.

“I like that idea.” I smiled, thinking about it. “Let me show you the outdoor pool.”

“Is this where you think the pod might come?”

“They would have to come way in, which could be scary for them, but if I bring her out in the off hours like early morning or evening, they would hear her calls and come.”

---