RIDE WITH THE SEAHORSES
The lure of the camaraderie of the
dolphins was too strong to resist. I had been told of the
denizens that feed on these gentle creatures, but had learned early to
watch for their dark shadows cast in the spring sunlight. I been
warned of the other dangers of swimming too close to shore - the nets,
the hooks, the spears but the impetuous of youth made me think myself
immortal.
The sea was my playground. I lived to
ride with the seahorses and be pulled through the salty brine grabbing
on to an octopus's tentacles. Some days when I would pop my head
above the water to see the blue sky, the sun, the breaking of the
waves. I loved the feel of wind in my hair and the warmth of the
sun. Oh how I yearned to cast away the fins and scales and walk upon
the dry land like those I saw on the water's edge.
One morning, as I swam watching the
bottom of the sunlit shoals for starfish and shells, I noticed the dark
shadow of something above me. Fear allowed me to swim
effortlessly out of its range, but curiosity caused me to stop and look
its way. There was no shark. Full of bravado I poked my
head above the water to see what I had mistakenly identified as danger.
The shadow had been caused by
something floating on the water, but to my amazement it was not a
craft. It was a piece of wood upon which stood a human, a male
human. From this close range I was able to clearly see his
golden hair and bright blue eyes and noted that, except for his
legs, he could have been my brother. His body was small but hard
and bronzed. I could only wonder what was concealed by the
blue cloth wrapped around his loins - no thoughts of brotherly love
there. Still what I remembered the most was the look of joy on
his face as he rode on the board as it tossed in the waves.
Never, except for the dolphins, had I ever seen a creature experience
so much pleasure in the surf.
That man, who walked on land, but
rode upon the waves, has been in my mind ever since. He cheered
me in times of sadness, entertained me in times of boredom, and created
a fantasy where I could escape when the world became unbearable.
Like when my father told me he had arranged a marriage for me. I
would never walk on land. I would never meet a man like the
golden creature that I saw that day. My life would be incomplete
. . . unless. . . .