Page 6 of Mail Order Splash

“I’ll start on the wounds. You can help when you come back.” He waved me away.

My granddad had put the lift in years before I took over, while I was still in school getting my degree, and it still worked, thankfully. I’d intended to just watch from the small office, but quickly gave in and went back out to help. We brought her up out of the water so Dr. Garcia could get a better look. I’d trained under him and we’d become great friends with a similar passion for sea life.

“I think she’ll feel better after both cycles of sleep. Most of the wounds, as you said, aren’t too bad and, well, thankfully, they’re quick healers.” He checked her dorsal. “I’d keep her on the sling tonight until she fights to get out.”

“I figured it was going to be one of those nights.” I yawned. “Sorry, I was up late studying.”

“Yeah, another night where you have an excuse to not attend those swanky parties with me.” He collected his stuff. “I hate going to them; you should have mercy on me.”

“Oh, stop, you’re a social butterfly and the last time I went I ended up sitting by myself for hours while you fluttered around.”

“I do not flutter. I’m a doctor and I am very important. We do not flutter.” He joked.

I turned the hose on him as he gasped and sputtered, laughing. We had a running joke for years where he would say he was a very important doctor when he was actually the most humble man I knew who also was very smart. I’d seen him do some incredible things over the years and hoped to be half as compassionate as he was to all animals.

I suppose I should want to be compassionate to humans too, but I don’t wanna. They do stupid stuff like throw nets in the water.

“I see the wheels turning. You can’t hate everyone, Kleine.”

“Yes, I can.” I tossed him a dry towel. “Why are people so selfish?”

“Not everyone is. Now get out of that wetsuit. Let Josh take over while you eat, then you can bring your pillow and blanket out.”

“Who said anything about a pillow and blanket?”

“I wasn’t born yesterday and the pillow and blanket in that bin over there certainly don’t belong to me.” He grabbed a fish from the feed bucket. “Keep trying to feed her. I’ll come back after the party.”

“I’m sorry I can’t go,” I called out.

“No, you’re not. Lying doesn’t look good on you, Kleine. Stick to saving animals.” He waved over his head as he left.

“Why don’t you go to the party? I can stay with her for a few hours.” Josh sat on the edge of the water next to me. “You have to have a life, ya know.”

“I do. I have this, and I feel pretty fulfilled.” I shouldered him. “You should go to the party.”

“Kleine, I can handle Netty. If something changes, I’ll call you.”

“Seriously, I don’t want to go. I’d rather be here with her than in a dress I can’t sit down in and shoes that’ll leave blisters.”

“You mean shoes you can’t swim in,” he laughed. “If you go you might be able to find someone rich who would want to invest.”

“Don’t go sounding smart now, and you know how much I hate begging for money.”

“It’s not begging and, if you don’t, all of this goes away.”

“I’ll find a way to save it. Don’t you worry, you still have a job here.”

“I’m not worried about my job, I’m worried about the legacy of this place. Your grandfather taught both of us how to swim in this very same water and your dad taught me how to communicate with the dolphins in that tank over there, which in turn helped me to communicate with humans.”

“I know, Josh. Believe me, I know.” I tried to feed Netty the fish.

“Then get dressed and go to the stupid party and find a sponsor. This place has been in your family for over forty years.” He pushed me to get up and go. “We’ve had worse cases than Netty. Doc says she’s mostly tired from fighting too long.”

“You know what I keep wondering?” I stretched. “Where was her pod? They don’t usually leave one behind.”

“I thought about that too. It’s like something chased them away.” He shrugged. “I’ll mention it to the Coast Guard guys. Maybe they can keep an eye out.”

“Thanks, Josh,” I smiled. “Hey, look, she’s wiggling.”

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