Our Saving Grace

Prologue - Axel Toma

What part of not in my fucking job description does the South Carolina Aquarium not understand? I am a researcher, not a tour guide or babysitter. I have more important things to do today other than showing around a huge group of snot nosed kids from the local high school. When people find out I have served time they always think that I am some violent psychopath, but I am telling you right now that the majority of these kids are ten times crueler than I have ever been. They bully each other and even worse, they are mistreating the aquarium animals. 

Right now I am trying not loose my cool as I watch these fuckers grabbing at the sea rays within the open tank. This exhibit is a huge draw for families with small children and is meant to encourage interaction between the visitors and the sea creatures so that they form a bond. Then maybe these kids will grow up with a modicum more respect for the ocean and the vast number of species that call it home. But right now, all that is on display is a disgusting  display of disrespect. I need to corral these  heartless fiends into the next exhibit before they seriously hurt one of our rays. 

I walk over to the group of teachers that are doing nothing to control the chaos in this room and briskly tell them that it is time to move on. One of the female teachers who has on about a pound of makeup, clothes that look like they went on sale about three years ago, and at least ten years older than me ran her eyes down the length of my body and from they way her posture shifted towards me I could tell that she liked what she saw. I really hope that it was something about me that caught her eye and not the fact that I am so much younger than her. The idea of predators working within the school system sent a shiver of revolution down my spine. 

I dodge her outstretched hand when she goes to touch my arm and direct her to the next stop on our tour; the penguin exhibit. The heard of loud, borderline violent teenagers eventually get the message that we are moving on and start to migrate down the hall. I scanned the large room one last time to make sure I wasn't leaving anyone behind to continue their torture of the rays. That is when I saw her.  

Standing in the corner, half hidden in the shadow created by a busted light was a scrap of a girl with dirty blonde hair that was tied up in a clip. Several strands of her near multi-colored hair had slipped out of the clip's hold and carefully framed her heart shaped face. I was about to snap at her to get a move on when I noticed her stillness. Instead of running around trying to grab the graceful rays as they floated through the tank, this girl was standing patiently with her hand below the water as she waited for one of the sea creatures to come to her. The amount of pure hope in her eyes as she watched the rays swim in her general area nearly took my breath away. It was like she was waiting on someone to call out the winning lottery numbers rather than the brief touch of a sea ray. 

My feet were rooted to the spot and I found myself actually holding my breath. What would happen when one of the rays finally gave this patient little girl what she wanted. Would she then grab at it to prolong her gratification or would she understand the these creatures were here for so much more than for her enjoyment and respect their swim patterns. 

We remained like that for the better part of two minutes. The girl staring adoringly into the water and me creeping on her from my vantage point. Then it happened. A large ray flapped his way around the edge of the tank and allowed himself to glide right underneath the girls outstretched fingertips. The smile that broke over the girls face was so huge and filled with innocent joy that it actually knocked me back a step. Even as the ray swam away from her, that life changing smile didn't drop from her face and she remained just as sill with her hand just under the surface of the water. 

This child understood. Out of the hundred kids that were on this field trip she was the only one to understand that the animals that are here are more than just things for human's enjoyment. She understood that she was gifted with a unique experience with this open tank display. She didn't take it for granted, which made her rare and I wanted to know a little more about her. I was a biology researcher, and I had a need to understand why she was able to understand while her peers were blissfully clueless.