Protest
Jeanie parked the van and walked past restaurants and shops along the pier. The Monterey Pier jutted out half a mile into the bay. A few fishermen dangled poles over the railing. It was quiet, but for the squawking of a few gulls. As she walked along the planks, the breeze blew her hair while she watched a gull glide with outstretched wings. At the end of the pier, she leaned on a railing.
Jeanie saw the obscure shape of a sailboat through the fog as she scanned the blue-gray waters, listening for the sound and looking for the tall plume of a finman blow.
Jeanie checked her watch: 7:30 A.M. She heard a slap on the water and wheeled around. Three gray faces looked up at her. They got out of the water, unlocked their bikes from the pier and loaded them into the van.
Jeanie looked back from the driver's seat and smiled: "OK guys! Are you ready for summer at the zoo?"
"Yeah, dudess! We're getting back into our music."
"That's not all you're getting into is it? Nina, you've been doing more on-line shopping, haven't you?"
"Good! My packages finally arrived."
"They've been in the office a few days but no one told me about it. Art supplies, hobby shop, one of them is from a fabric store. What kind of art are you getting into now? You're not going to make a dress, are you?"
"You'll find out when we get to the zoo."
Nina's packages were in the trainers lounge, near their computers. Curiosity got the better of Mookeeo. He tore the paper off a large rectangular box revealing a model kit for a large ship.
"What are you going to do with this?" he asked.
Nina slapped his gray hand.
"Stop that! And don't tell anyone about my things." She glared at him.
He looked at her puzzled, and turned away. Crazy dolphina, he thought. What's gotten into her?
They worked on their computers for a while, before they plunged into the pool. Nina left early.
"Where are you going?" Doak wanted to know.
"It's a surprise. You boys stay away for now, but I might ask for help later." She vanished into the lounge.
"What do you think she's doing?" Doak asked Mookeeo.
"I don't know but I feel like playing music. Let's hit a few notes. Maybe we'll get inspired for a new song."
Two hours later, Nina fetched them at the tune shack. "You boys want to see my surprise?"
"Yeah, what have you been doing with those art supplies?" Doak asked, as they walked toward the lounge.
"Preparing, taking Mookeeo's advice...You know, boys, the huwees have a saying: 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.' We're gonna take our first step.
"They walked into the locker. A large white denim fabric, about the size of a bed sheet was taped on the wall, with brass grommets in each corner and holes randomly placed for the wind to blow through. Adorned with pictures of dolphins, fish, birds and seals, the banner said, in painted letters:
"HELP US SURVIVE. GIVE US OARS: Oil Animal Rescue Services WE WANT A GOO TAX"
"Wow, that's great!" Doak proclaimed.
"I like it too," Mookeeo agreed. "But we better ask huwee bull for permission to put it up."
"What? You crazy, Mook?" Doak said.
"We should follow their procedure. The zoo has been good to us..."
"Damn it!" Doak retorted. The whites in his eyes flashed. "What the swee is wrong with you? Are you a dolphin or a chicken? I've had it with your moderation. You're like one of those mellow California surfer dudes - going along with the program, riding the wave. We gotta make our own wave."
"Hey! I like me the way I am. I'm tired of your hot temper and attitude. You best lighten up or..." "Or what? You may be bigger but you're not faster, and you're not badder! That's what we gotta do - Be bad! Be bad! Be bad!" Flarms outstretched, chest protruding, Doak's body language challenged the bigger dolphin.
Mookeeo was about to shove him when Nina intervened. She stepped between them, hugged Mookeeo and rubbed his head with her flarms. "Doak may be right," she said in a soft voice.
Doak stepped back and eased off, just a little. "You been studying so much, you got analysis paralysis. Ain't no way huwee bull would agree to this. We gotta take 'em by surprise. Don't be blinded by loyalty, Mookeeo. You gotta see the big picture."
Nina stepped back, still holding Mookeeo at flarms length and looked at his eye. "You boys both have good ideas, but different talents. That's why we make a good team. Let's keep working together.
"There's a time for moderation and a time to fight. Don't you think this is a time for action?"
Mookeeo contemplated, silent a moment. "OK Doak, I'm glad you were bold enough to see it. This will start phase three."
"Now that you boys got that straightened out," Nina stated, "here's my plan..."
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