Tidal Wave - Book Two

Temptations Under Pressure

The next morning was like the usual. Get up and dress out. Go to work. Catch fish and deliver. Repair and rebuild. Alberto drove Giulia in the truck to a bike shop so she could repair her broken bike. "Try not to break your bike again." Said Alberto, "How many times do I have to tell you? It wasn't my fault!" Giulia complained as she pulled her bike from the trunk and went inside the bike shop. Alberto drove to Massimo's fish shop as he sighed and shook his head, "She's gonna break it again..." Alberto pulled up to the curve of Massimo's fish shop and hopped out the truck and unloaded the barrels of fish and set them in the shop by the door. "Grazzie, Alberto." Said Massimo as he cuts a fish's head off, "I dropped Giulia off at the bike shop so that she could get her fifteenth broken bike repaired. But I know that's not gonna last long... Again." Said Alberto, "Accidents happen, Amico." Said Massimo as he rips off a sheet of paper and walks over to Alberto "Here's the list for you to deliver the fish." Massimo said; handing Alberto the list, "Thanks, Massimo!" Alberto said grabbing the sheet of paper and loading the prepped fish onto the truck and then driving to the locations he had to deliver them to. "Luca! Come eat your breakfast!" Called Daniella. Luca was in the ocean in his new home herding fish like he used to do; as soon as his mother called, he herd the fish back to their little cave and set his staff down and went inside his new home. It was almost like his old one in Portorroso, just more bigger and spacious with more moss, seaweed and kelp. Luca sat at the dinner table and ate his food as his dad was admiring his crab collection. "Look, Luca! This is one of the most exotic crabs out of the other ten, the European Spider Crab!" Said Lorenzo as he holds up the crab. It had a circular body; which is usually light orange to brown in color; and was covered in bumps and has small spines running along the edge. Its legs were a darker orange and very long and had two joints in them. "Whoa! I've never seen a crab like that before!" Luca said in awe as he scanned the crabs' body, "Don't look her in the eye! You could provoke her!" Lorenzo yelled, "I'm sorry!" Said Luca, "Don't apologize! They can sense weakness!" Said Lorenzo, "Those crabs better beat those Branzino's at the crab festival this year! Everyone thinks Bianca Branzino is so amazing with her dolphin impression." Daniella mocked in jealousy "Please, anyone can do a dolphin impression!" Luca wasn't paying attention. He turned and looked outside at the Sirens that were hunting a school of fish with spears. "Don't even think about it." Daniella said eyeing Luca, "I wasn't! I-I was just curious..." Said Luca, "Luca, we are not about to have a repeat of you running away to some weird, mysterious and deadly world! And besides, these... Sirens are a bit too... Much." "I know, Mom." Sighed Luca, "Here, go on and fetch some more kelp." Said Daniella as she handed Luca some coins and he left back up to the surface to the little super market they had at the village.

Maria woke up and stretched as she yawned and looked around the room. Alberto was already gone; probably was delivering fish. Cari entered her room with a bowl of cereal and a glass of orange juice. "Good morning." Maria signed as Cari gave her the cereal and orange juice, "Good morning, sister." Cari signed back and sat next to her big sister and they ate their breakfast together. "I collected more shells. Little ones this time." Signed Cari as she reached the pocket of her jean shorts and pulled out some seashell necklaces "One for you and one for me." Maria grabbed one of them and smiled, "They're beautiful." Maria signed as she put the necklace over her head and around her neck. "I made one for my new brother too!" Signed Cari, "Brother? Who?" Maria signed in confusion, "The one your always with. The Sea Monster guy." Signed Cari, "Oh, you mean Alberto." Maria signed as she grabs the necklace Cari made for him "I'll be sure to give it to him and let him know you made it for him." Signed Maria as she smiles and caresses her sister's face. "Can you sing that song again?" Cari signed. Maria nodded and Cari went back downstairs to get her hearing aids then came back upstairs and sat down next to her sister. Maria held her sister closely and sang,

(( "Hello friend above the Ocean." A dear friend across the river parody.))

"Hello friend above the Ocean
Our hands move in motion.
Hello friend above the Ocean
I'll take you from all the commotion.
I ask your love a-plenty
We sleep below the waves.
I come as you befriend me
We rise below the caves.
Our homes are made with pave
So come below the Ocean
And see my dreams below."