Slip Under The Surface - Chp 1

        I grasped for the handle of the pail blindly in the oblique shadows spreading out from every corner of the freezer. I then remembered how my father and supervisor for the orca trainer staff at SeaWorld Hawaii, Rodney Oxford, had told me that it would be on the left side of the wrap-around counter. But in the hypothermic, arid freezer, there was hardly a way to even know which was was up. I ran my hand along the rock-hard counter, groping for a metallic bucket protruding from the flat surface. Alas, my hand came across a smooth, vertical object projecting from the counter.

I immediately reached for the bucket, and spun on my heel. I ambled cautiously, attempting to avoid slipping on a frozen patch of linoleum. Lunging for the huge, cold handle of the door, I could see my own breath in a sliver of light escaping from one of the door hinges. I heaved downward on the heavy door handle, nearly falling as I jerked the door open.

Suddenly, the light from the preparation kitchen flooded over the rubbery wet suit fabric covering my skin. I brought the pail of heron to one of the center islands, where Rodney was stuffing assorted pills into the gills of several cod.

“Thank you, Millie,” Rodney smiled.

 “No problem, dad,” I spoke softly.
Rodney glanced at me, then tossed the cod into a bucket with ‘Kai’ scrawled on the side. I placed the pail down gently, not wanting to disrupt him.
Alexis strode gracefully toward me through the kitchen door, her jaw-length, blonde hair bouncing joyfully.

 “Are you ready for today?” She looked me up and down, scrutinizing every angle of my body.

“Huh?” I asked, suddenly confused.
Alexis shrugged, and turned to Rodney for Kai’s fish. Rodney flashed her a quick smile, handing her four, silver buckets. Alexis nodded, and turned for the door.

“Are you ready?” Rodney said staidly, his voice full of concern.

“Yes, dad. I just wasn’t sure what Lexi meant at first,” My voice wavered. I attempted to conceal my emotions. It was obvious it wasn’t working.

“Don’t be nervous.”

“It’s just... early morning anxiety. Don’t worry about it.”
Rodney nodded prudently, then handed me four buckets of fish, each with Mau Loa written on them.

I took off through the swinging kitchen door, overwhelmed by the sudden wave of early-morning humidity. My Tivas squawked underneath my feet against the pebbled path as I made my way to Shamu Stadium. I passed by gorgeous tropical foliage and several attractions, exhilaration filling my lungs, adrenaline brimming my stomach. The stadium came into view, several hundred yards away. The oversized tee shirt and sweat pants over my wet suit created drag as I hastened my speed, slowing me further.

I slowed as I came within ten feet of the sopping slide out, and glimpsed Neil and Kapu through the thick Plexiglas. I stood as high as I physically could, reaching towards a tan food box fixed to the edge of the tank. Lifting the lid, I dropped one of the buckets inside. I trudged toward a similar food box on the opposite side out the tank, repeating the process.

I continued my jog along the tank towards the back pools, where I climbed the left staircase. I made my way to the platform behind the enormous whale tail, where I dropped my sweats and Tivas against the wall, before stepping onto the stage. I placed the remaining pails of fish into a box freezer mounted on the wall, just below the enormous screens, then jogged to the left gate. I held down the button with as much force as I could generate. The gate swung open, squealing noisily.

I slapped the water; Mau Loa swam through the gate nonchalantly, cruising in an early morning somber. The gate swayed shut. I walked along the stage, Mau Loa bobbing beside me effortlessly. As I turned to face the water, Mau Loa released a short huff of vapor. I knelt down, and Mau Loa spy hopped out of curiosity. She recognized me almost immediately, her melon falling back into the water. Mau Loa pushed her head lightly into my lap, her eyes full of curiosity and meaning. I rested my fingers on Mau Loa’s rostrum and chin, pretending to open her black and white “lips”. She cooperated, opening her mouth as I moved my fingers, revealing her glistening teeth and rosy gums. I patted her tongue affectionately as her eyes peered towards my face. I leaned backwards, her mouth shutting obediently.

As I stood, I shot my right arm out in front of me, and briskly dropped it to my side. Mau Loa quickly swam a lap around the tank, water sputtering away from her dorsal fin. As Mau Loa neared the stage to where I stood, she slowed considerably. Her back now protruded from the water, a wall of vapor erupting from her blowhole. Mau Loa swam against the stage, where I leaped heedfully onto her slippery back. I wind-milled my arms several times until I was fully capable of attaining my balance.

I reached down to tap the heel of my hand against her smooth skin. We gained speed, surfing across the still water. As we passed the slide out, I brought a whistle to my pursed lips and blew, permitting a sharp, metallic noise. In tandem, we slowed, allowing myself to dive into the center of the restless water. Mass swarms of bubbles among the conspicuous blue deluged the world around me. In the hazy shadows, an acute shape treaded towards me. It circled once at a distance, the severely noticeable black spot on each eyepatch making me obliviously realize the impeccable Mau Loa now within arm’s reach.

I turned to face the other direction, extending my legs behind me. Aside from the tingling sensation of bubbles hitting my cheeks, I felt the familiar pressure against the tender soles of my feet. I bent my knees slightly, leaning upward. As we approached the surface, the water sucked at every visible point of my body. Abruptly, we erupted from the water, liquid flooding from my figure in collective amounts. We coasted along the surface, the water surrounding us, folding over itself. As we neared the stage again, I arched my back modestly, Mau Loa’s force becoming more vertical rather than horizontal. I felt gravity lifting itself from my shoulders, for an enticing sliver of time, before I lifted my arms and threw my left leg behind me. We rapidly dove down through the nippy water towards the underpinning of the tank, the grasping force of the water clinging to my physique. As we arrived at the substructure, I curved my back once more, suddenly gliding to the surface of the astoundingly gorgeous water.

Mau Loa gained momentum in preparation before exiting the water. Together, we became a vertical entity above the surface. I raised my arms gallantly, catching the mesmerized eyes of Alyson, Justin, and Kayla. The stunning creature below me decreased speed as gravity took hold, sliding towards the water again.

We crashed into the water in breathtaking conjunction, Mau Loa pulling herself out from under me. I was suddenly full of confusion - I wasn’t slowing to a stop. I was still plummeting through the water uncontrollably. Out of no where, Mau Loa was suddenly about ten feet below me, her rostrum in my direct path. I clasped my hands together, above my head, my fingers intertwining. I grasped Mau Loa’s rostrum, abruptly stopping my fall. I looked down, surprised that I was only five or so feet away from the bottom of the tank.

Mau Loa, who strangely took note of the franticness behind the serene calm in my eyes, began to tow me to the surface. As we broke free from the undeniable pressure, I sputtered, water escaping my throat. Despite my breath holding abilities, I had ultimately been caught off guard by the depth I had achieved from a stand-on reentry. Mau Loa nudged me unsettlingly out of worry. I coughed once more, then smiled unwittingly.

I wrapped my arm around Mau Loa’s rostrum happily, Mau Loa gliding along towards the slide out indifferently. When we reached the platform, I pushed off of Mau Loa’s rostrum, with her assistance. I sat on the lip of the slide out, Mau Loa at my feet. I looked to my right, only to find Neil jogging toward me with a perturbed expression on his face.

“Are you alright?” He placed two of his fingers beneath my jaw, checking my pulse.

 “Yes, Neil. I’m fine,” I rolled my eyes.

 “What on earth were you doing?” His expression turned to one of bewilderedness.

 “I didn’t pop off. I’m fine,” I assured him.

“Okay.”
He definitely did not sound convinced.

I lowered myself into the water from the ledge.

“What are you doing?” Neil was almost screaming.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” I grinned.

“You can’t possibly go in there.”

“Watch me.”
I back-stroked ten or so feet away from the slide out, Mau Loa following. I purposefully ducked underneath the surface, pointing out the bottom perimeter of the thirty-plus ft. deep tank to Mau Loa with my right hand. Mau Loa dove from the surface, her tail thrusting water in every direction. She swam with breakneck speed, flying along the bottom of the pool, rapidly approaching my awaiting feet.

The connection was electric. We soared along the surface, my torso gracefully lifted from the waves. My arms were extended horizontally, leaving tiny trails of foam on the glistening surface. The water parted in our wake, remnant spray darting my chest through the wet suit like tiny icicles.

Mau Loa formed a shallow arc with her back to release a quick burst of speed, lifting me about nine feet in the air. In precise timing, Mau Loa lowered her body back into the water, allowing myself a safe return into the depths of the tank.

Throwing my arms above my head and my left leg behind me, we descended rapidly toward the bottom of the tank. I leaned slightly to the left, sending us in the equivalent direction. I curved my back, and we made our way towards the glimmering surface. I bent my knees in preparation for the significant launch. As we emerged from the water, I pushed off of Mau Loa’s rostrum at the peak of her bow, leaving her force behind. Suddenly, I became overwhelmed at the feeling of being alone. Attempting to maintain my grace and sanity while being hurdled into the air had its consistent challenges and dangers. As I began my descent, I bent my body into a half-pike, and dove into the waters previously cushioned by Mau Loa’s landing.