Kai's Short Stories Collection

Remy Tintenfisch, Scientist

"Wow, look at that one!"

The kid's friend rushed at his side to look at the tiny shark in the aquarium, gaping at it until their teacher, Miss Katelyn, ushered them along with the rest of the group. The trip was going fairly well considering it had only been planned a few days prior. A friend of hers, Marceline, had called her a few days prior to offer her class a trip to the aquarium where she worked. Katelyn, of course, had accepted: it would do the kids wonders to get out of school for a while, and they tended to learn better when things were presented in a lighter, funnier way. The trip, however, had been a hassle to plan, what with only a few days ahead. But they had pulled it off, and the kids were having fun, so Katelyn could only assume it was worth it. When she'd asked Marceline what the occasion was, she'd said one of her newest colleges wanted to give some kids a visit to interest them in marine science. Both women agreed it was a good idea, and there they were. The said colleague, Remy, was supposed to meet them in the hall, which is where she was trying to get her twenty-two kids at the moment.

"Are you sure you'll be ok Remy?" asked Marc.

He nodded, his notes in hand already, a nervous smile plastered on his sweaty face.

"It'll be fine, you'll see," said Marceline.

Remy only nodded again before getting out into the hall just in time to spot the flock of children circling the big central aquarium.

The only adult of the group quickly approached, ushering the small kids along with her. Her shoulder slumped as soon as they reached him.

"Remy, is it? I'm Katelyn," she said, shaking his hand. Her touch didn't linger on his moist skin, and she lowered her voice, shooting him a sympathetic look.

"Nervous?"

He stiffly nodded.

"It's ok, they're not too hard to entertain," she assured, gesturing to the kids, most of which were already flocking against the aquarium's cold glass.

Remy's legs were shaking and he stumbled a bit on his way to the kids, smiling weakly.

If one was really honest too, they'd say he wasn't walking very straight, though it was probably the stress.

"This is a first," Marceline had said.

"Is it? Does the aquarium never do those kinds of visits?"

"Oh no, they do, I meant for Remy. See, he's a foreigner, so his english isn't always very good, and he has never been able to work up the courage to make a visit himself. He's really easily understandable, mind you, he's just a bit self-conscious."

"Oh, of course, don't worry, I'll give the kids a word about it, make sure they won't make rude comments."

Marceline had smiled.

"Hello, small human children!" Remy cheerily greeted.

At once, most of the little heads turned to him, some lingering, some returning to their observation of the octopus lazily resting on a rock not far from the glass.

"I am Remy, the scientist in octopus science," he continued. "Do you want to hear some fun octopus facts?"

"Like what?" asked one of the kids still staring at him.

"Like octopus can squeeze through one-inch holes!"

A boy next to him made an approximation of an inch with his fingers and turned back to Remy:

"No way, that's too little!"

Before Remy even had time to open his mouth, a small girl staring at the octopus made a small circle with her fingers and held it between her eye and the animal, closing the other to see through it.