Rendezvous
A full moon sat in the tranquil night sky. Many of the less bright stars were hidden, leaving only the brighter ones around to accompany the moon. The water was serene, only small and undisruptive waves came by from time to time, with much leisure and ease.
Maku-Maku waddled in the water, away from the part of the docks where his family were, towards the deeper part of the sea. Under the surface came one ethereal shadow with a light blue glow, its body like a floating silk pouch, contracting and relaxing. Then came another. Then came more and more with different glows.
Jellyfish, as if they knew where Maku-Maku was heading and decided to come out in droves to light the way for him. Cloudless sky with a silver moon, colorful lights from under the water. He could not have thought of a more perfect night.
From the other side of the bay, a white shadow appeared. It came gradually closer, showing its shiny, smooth white exterior, its immaculate curves, both hydrodynamically sound and visually stunning.
“Angelica”, this was the shadow’s name, etched on the left side of her bow. But she preferred to be called Angie by those close to her.
Maku-Maku waddled harder, and lowered his paddles into the water and started rowing. It would create waves that could attract attention, but he just could not wait to see her.
“Stop paddling so hard, we’d be in big trouble if our parents saw us.” Angie chuckled as she bumped her bow against Maku-Maku’s.
“What can I do? I just want to see you, so much.” Maku-Maku inched his hull closer to Angie’s. She moved closer as well, and their exterior gently rubbed against each other from the gentle wave. The touch of fiberglass definitely felt different from that of wood. If Maku-Maku had an engine, it would definitely be roaring.
“You Woodens, always in such a rush.” Angie giggled, she did not seem to mind.
“Your parents didn’t see you, right?” Maku-Maku asked.
“No worries. The Fiberglassed are all asleep at this hour.”
“Huh, many of the Woodens are still having a gathering about salmon.” Maku-Maku sighed.
Just this moment, melodic and pleasant hummings came from the further part of the sea. A few shadows jumped out of the water and fell back in, like they were singing and dancing at the same time.
“The whales sound so … sad, tonight.” Maku-Maku tried his hardest to appear sensitive and romantic: “I wonder what they’re singing… Their love songs? Or about their hopes and dreams?”
“I’d like to think it’s their love songs.” Angie let out a relaxed exhale.
“You youngsters are so… cringe.” A cute but somehow cynical voice came from the bow of Angie.
“Mr. Skippy!” Maku-Maku and Angie both almost jumped out of the water, as they recognized the voice: “What - what are you doing here?”
“You need to check your decks before you go out into the sea.” An orange, furry feline yawned as he walked up Angie’s bow: “I was eating a can of tuna and passing out one minute, and I’m here the next, listening to whale booty calls.”
“Boot - booty calls?” Maku-Maku felt like his bow was getting hot and his paddles were uneasy.
“Yeah, yeah.” Mr. Skippy raised his fluffy, pointy ears and paused for a while: “You heard that? That was whale for ‘Someone come and give it to me.’”
“Okay, okay, Mr. Skippy, we don’t need - ” Angie tried to cut the cat with an attitude off.
“Oh ho ho, and another whale just asked the other guy how much shrimp he can bring home each week. No shrimp, no booty.” Mr. Skippy laughed out loud.
“We get it, we get it. Mr. Skippy.” Maku-Maku interrupted the cat: “Can I bring you back to the docks?”
“Well, sure.” Mr. Skippy hopped over into Maku-Maku: “Your girl’s interior gets cold at night.”
“Come back soon, be careful.” Angie sighed: “We don’t want another Wooden Vs. Fiberglassed quarrel.”
“Of course. ” Maku-Maku bumped Angie lightly before paddling away: “See you soon.”
The night was still young, and the jellyfish horde seemed to be still waking up, as more of them seemed to be coming out from under the water.
“Maku!” To Maku-Maku’s surprise, his parents were waiting for him when he returned to the Wooden’s side of the docks: “Where were you? ”
“I - I - I just went out for a quick stroll!” Maku-Maku stammered: “What - I can do that right?”
“Were you out with a girl?” His mother came closer, imposing: “You know we don’t want you dating so soon!”
“Yeah! ” His father came closer as well: “We don’t want you bumping bellies either! You’re not ready for children!”
“Dad!” Maku-Maku whined.
“Not just children!” His mother raised her voice: “What if you caught mussels? They’re itchy and they never go away! Promise me you’ll only bump bellies safely!”
“Mom!” Maku-Maku felt like he could sink himself.
“No worries, folks.” At this moment, Mr. Skippy jumped onto the docks from Maku-Maku’s back: “He just went out there to see the jellyfish. They’re putting on a show tonight.”
“Jellyfish? Ugh.” Maku-Maku’s father turned back: “Alright, as long as you’re steering clear of girls and mussels. ”
“Don’t stay out too long.” Maku-Maku’s mother floated up and down, then started paddling away as Mr. Skippy licked his paw on the wood panels: “They’re going to have a meeting about salmon later. You should come by.”
“Sure, Mom.” Maku-Maku slowly turned away, then whispered to the cat: “Thank you, Mister.”
(listen to this story being brought to life by the ever so talented Ian Kirkpattiecake!)