Panic seized Awethu as the water gripped him, pulling him deep.
Help!
He couldn’t see his feet. But they still felt like feet. What if I’m crazy? What if this is all an illusion and I’m going to drown?
He kicked, he flailed, but the water continued to tow him further out, always pressing him down, so he couldn’t come up for air. In his dream he could breathe underwater, but when he scraped his hand under his jaw, he didn’t feel anything unusual; nothing like gills might feel.
I’m going to die.
“Breathe,” a voice said.
But he kept his lips firmly shut.
“Breathe,” the voice said again.
He felt hands grab him, his arms, his legs, his torso.
He was afraid. They’re Sirens, those fish-people who drown sailors by luring them to their death, and now I’m their next meal.
The hands pulled him deeper. His lungs began to burn.
“Son, breathe!” a mighty voice commanded.
His mouth opened, and water flooded into his lungs.
And bubbles floated out from under his jaw, tucked near his ears, circling around his head, in the dim light of this mysterious sea.
He blinked, and his vision grew clearer. As if his eyes were changing, adjusting, to this new, salty, wet atmosphere.
Numerous arms wrapped themselves around him. “We’re a family!” a little voice squealed.
Phili.
“Yes we are,” another voice said.
Mama.
“Let’s take you home,” said a third.
Tata.
The arms relaxed, and without looking back, Awethu followed them, his feet now long, graceful fins.
* * * * *
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday…” Awethu woke to his family’s song. There they all were, lined up around him: Mama, Tata, Cwebile, Mbali and Phili, whose tail was wagging so hard in delight, she reminded Awethu of a land-puppy.
He smiled at them all. “Good morning.”
“Cake!” Phili squealed.
His mama gave her youngest an indulgent look. “Yes, sweetheart, we’ll do the cake before he goes back to land to celebrate the big 17 with his land family.”
Phili sucked in water, her cheeks bulging like a blowfish. “You can’t leave us!”
He sat up and pulled his baby sister into his lap. “I’ll be back in a week, just like I came back after Christmas and Easter.”
She nodded cautiously. “Because then it will be my birthday.”
“That’s right, then it will be your birthday and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Phili threw her small arms around his neck, squeezing with all her might. He gently hugged her back.
He loved being in a family with siblings. But in his heart, Awethu’s land family would always be his first family. He still loved them, despite the lies, and knew they loved him too. But he was done living full time on land. After experiencing life underwater, land-life now felt ‘off’, like wearing clothes a size too small. Deep in the sea, amongst people who were like him, he felt a sense of belonging like he’d never had. A perfect fit. It was as if he had finally found his missing piece.
Phili let go of his neck, looking him straight in the eye. “Will you buy me a present from land?”
“Phili!” Mama admonished.
“Hmm,” Awethu said with a grin, “I’ll have to think about that.”
“Please!”
Awethu threw back his head and laughed. The day was still young, but already this was the best birthday he’d ever had.
*****
Tell us: What did you think of this story?
***
You can read more safety tips for the beach and sea here:
www.gardenroutemeander.co.za/news/beach-safety-tips.html
www.westerncape.gov.za/general-publication/how-stay-safe-beach-summer
www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Drowning
