Kali Frees Willy

Chapter 6

Awhile later, Randolph had given the kids a carving of an orca whale from his tribe and told them about a story of a 'Haida' named Natsaclane who lived long before there were orca whales but got lost one day while hunting for fish. 

While he was searching, a fierce storm began. The otters came and took Natsaclane deep under the water where he'd be safe. After the storm, Natsaclane found a huge log and began carving a great beast in it and tried carrying it to the ocean. But the great carving sank to the bottom of this pool and disappeared. Natsaclane sat and watched and waited, saying a prayer he'd never heard before. 

"Salana Ayun Iasis" 

He kept saying this weird prayer. Then it really got crazy... the water started flying out and all this commotion started happening. And out of the water came the carving. But it wasn't a carving... It was a whale, like Willy! He flew all the way down to the ocean, like a bird. And Natsaclane, he got on his back and rode him all the way home.

Over the next few days, Jesse and Kali continued working at the park, but most importantly, getting to see Willy. 

One day while the kids were cleaning up the observation area, Willy was watching them through the glass window and started vocalizing to get their attention. 

"Hi, boy" Kali and Jesse came up to the window to greet their whale friend. "What's up?" 

The two kids were spending a lot of time with Willy, training him and just hanging out. Jesse continued talking with Willy as they were all really bonding. 

One evening, Jesse and Kali were watching Willy by the edge of his tank making that strange vocalization sound again for some odd reason, even Kali didn't seem to understand. 

"What's the matter?" Jesse wondered what was wrong with the orca whale. "What are you making that awful noise for?"

The training for Willy continued on, as the kids would give him extra salmon they'd get from the market plus make him toys to play with. Jesse and Kali made it up to the point where they jumped into the tank and got to ride on Willy. Jesse even got the guts to be brave enough and rub Willy's tongue. 

Jesse had been finally getting along better with the Greenwoods. But one night, Jesse got into a little scuffle with them after they weren't convinced that Jesse's mom was coming back for him like he had hoped. The fight got a little out of hand between Glen and Annie which scared Jesse, causing him to break the window with his baseball present. But both Kali and the Greenwoods were able to reassure Jesse that they were here for him no matter what. 

The next day, Kali and Jesse came down to Willy's tank with something special wrapped up in newspaper for him. 

"Willy, we got something for you" Kali called out to the orca whale. 

"Ooh, Is it a fish? Two fish? No, wait... a whole bucket of fish!" Willy eagerly asked as he swam alongside the kids who chuckled at him. 

"This is from us to you" Jesse presented Willy with a big salmon. "There you go, bud. Got that with all our pocket money. Enjoy" 

Perry soon showed up, surprising Jesse and Kali. He told them that he and Dayton were business partners now and were planing to leave for Sacramento in California then L.A. He said they could get in on it. But Kali and Jesse declined, saying they had to take care of Willy, which was much more important to them. Perry still gave them a card though to where he was going if they changed their minds. 

A little while later, Jesse and Kali came over to the edge of Willy's tank. 

"Hey, Willy" Jesse and Kali sat down next to the whale. 

"You miss your family?" Jesse asked Willy. 

"Yeah" the lonely killer whale sighed. 

"I know how you feel, buddy" Kali sighed, petting Willy on his rostrum.  

"Well, my mom's a pain" Jesse began telling Willy about his mom. "She couldn't take care of me. Couldn't even take care of herself. I haven't seen her since I was a little kid. But, I still miss her" 

"You know, it's rough" Kali sighed, telling both Willy and Jesse. "But, that's just the way life is"

"Could be a lot worse" Willy told the kids. 

"I know my family's still out there somewhere" Kali told Willy before looking off into the distance. "I hope to find them one day" 

"We hope you find your family too someday" Jesse told Willy, before he and Kali both kissed Willy on his rostrum. "We love you, Willy" they said. 

"And I love you guys too" the orca whale said back to them. 

It was incredible how two different species separated from the land and water could understand each other and become friends. It was truly beyond anything you could ever imagine, the bond between two kids and a whale. 

Later that same day, Dial and Wade showed up to inspect Jesse and Kali with Willy, to see him do some tricks and stuff. 

"Would you like to do some tricks today?" Kali asked the orca whale. 

"You bet!" Willy eagerly shook his head yes. 

"Okay" Jesse said and Willy started off with squirting water from his mouth while going all around the pool.

Kali and Jesse got Willy to jump, spin around in circles, do flips, and all sorts of other things in front of Dial and his assistant, really impressing them with the kids and whale's talent together.  

"Alright, boy. Come on, Willy!" Jesse and Kali told the orca as he put on a spectacle show. "Go, Willy!" 

"Now come to us! Willy!" Jesse and Kali said when finally, Willy slid out on the stage, presenting himself to his audience. 

"And that, gentlemen, is our show!" Rae told Dial and Wade. 

The men were left speechless, before Wade applauded. Kali and Jesse then blew their whistles, telling Willy good job while Randolph and Rae came over to the kids as they all cheered in celebration. 

Afterwards~ 

"So you guys can do all that again?" Dial asked the kids what they just did with Willy. 

"Yes, Sir" Kali nodded to him in reply.  

"Sure we can do it again" Jesse added. "Anytime"

That evening, Kali got a funny feeling that Dial was up to something about possibly being able to finally make money off of Willy. But more importantly, that a tragedy would strike for her, Jesse, and Willy tomorrow.