Breaking Barriers

High and Higher

Squirt Octus:

"Wait, there's one more!" Pinto exclaimed just as Shellington picked up the box.

Shellington immediately put the box back down and pulled out two little video tapes and my heart leaped in excitement. We had a video player, all we had to do was put the tapes in and see what surprises Pearl and the Vegimals left us. The screen was staticky for a few seconds after it was put into the player, then the screen changed to show a kelp forest and tall sea otter with glasses and unkept hair who looked a lot like Shellington. A few seconds later, a tiny otter pup who seemed to be completely naked came into the frame on the back of another, slightly older otter, this time a girl with a little yellow bow in her hair.

"Pearl, who's that on your back, dear?" Asked a female voice, the camerawoman no doubt.

"His name is Shewwy." Pearl beamed happily and baby Shellington giggled.

"Shellington, you mean?" The lady behind the camera asked in amusement.

"Yeah!" Little Pearl exclaimed proudly, "Shewwinton." I chanced a glance at Shellington at that moment. His face was frozen in an expression of mortified shock, and his usually pale complexion turned red as a tomato.

"Aww, Baby Shelly." Kwazii laughed and gently gave Shellington a punch on the arm. Just as things seemed like they couldn't embarrass Shellington anymore, mini Pearl announced to the camera.

"Auntie, Shewwy farted." Everyone stifled giggles except for the Captain and Shellington, who only seemed to get redder by the second, and immediately grabbed the TV remote, shut the video off, and hid his face in his paws.

"Aww, you were so cute Shellington." Dashi smiled and rubbed his back in a failed attempt at consolation.

"Shellington, your sister's a riot!" Ishka laughed for what seemed like the first time in days. The ice that seemed to always be encasing this place began to crack and melt, and our little place actually felt warmer.

Here's another!" Nickie cried and before anyone could stop him, was already replacing the videotape with the other. Shellington seemed to be very on edge, and afraid of what other embarrassing baby videos were awaiting him, but to his surprise, the first thing that we saw on this videotape was a tiny green flipper waving itself in front of the camera followed by around 8 little Vegimals crowding the camera, trying to all fit into the frame while the 4 remaining sprouts jumped up and down in the background, calling out their adorable nickname for Shellington as Pearl rushed over to them, clutching little Peri's paw. Everyone who had never seen the Vegimals before proceeded to go "Aww!"

"Hi little brother!" She called out cheerfully as she took the camera from the Vegimals so she could videotape all of them clearly.

"Give Shellydo a big smile now." And all the little Vegimals smiled and began to crowd the camera. From the looks of it, it seemed like they were trying to give the camera hugs and kisses before Pearl turned the camera to Peri.

"Anything you want to tell Uncle Shellington, sweetie?"

"Uncle Shellington!" Peri bounced up and down in excitement, "Guess what? Mummy and I learned how to talk to the Vegimals." And he proceeded to translate every sentence he could think of to Shellington, who at this moment was wiping tears from his eyes as the Captain went over and wrapped an arm tightly and protectively around him.

"What's wrong, lad?" The Captain murmured and stroked Shellington's hair gently, his voice brimming with concern.

"I-I'm fine Captain, just miss my family a bit, that's all." Shellington sighed and cuddled into the Captain's hug.

"Oh," Peso had gone over too, and was on his other side, giving him the biggest hug he could, "It's OK, you've got us, and they seem happy and safe, and they love you so so much."

"I agree," The Captain murmured as everyone else in the Octopod Family joined their group hug.

"What if we made one of those videos too." My uncle exclaimed as he embraced Shellington.

"Yes, good idea professor!" The Captain beamed.

"Yeah, good on ya, Inky." Kwazii smiled mischievously.

"Oh for goodness sakes, first the children and now you?" My uncle grumpily exclaimed. I stifled a laugh. Once us kids had learned of Min's special nickname for him, we simply had to make his life miserable by using it to make fun of him every chance we got. But this was the Octopod Family, we could make fun of each other every morning and be cuddling each other by noon. Surprisingly, this office has brought all of us closer than we ever were before, and blessed us with new members of this beautiful family. Even though the first thing we're likely to do once we can leave is run as fast as our legs/tentacles can take us far away from this place, and we're all fed up with each other, it's still our little sanctuary while the world outside burns, and where else can we go?