Ocean Dwellers

Ocean Dwellers

It was the year 2116. The Earth was overpopulated and neither the Moon or Mars could be colonized in time. Missions for colonization had been planned to start over the next 30 years. As a temporary fix for the food shortage and overpopulation, nearly three billion people were pushed out onto the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian ocean in boats. There were plenty of supplies and fishermen amongst the people which, really, was all they needed to survive. People had to fish to survive and by all means, there was no shortage of fish in the ocean. The small fish were usually let out so they could grow and have eggs. The Ocean Dwellers, is what they were called, had to be smart about which type of fish they caught, which to let go, and which to eat in order to survive all those years. The boats had movable roofs and a submarine mode that lasted for a short period of time, usually three to five days. This let the people survive storms. Everyone had radios and were informed of any storms and their locations which would allow them to steer a different course. The submarine mode was usually a last resort. At any rate, if you asked the Ocean Dwellers if they liked their way of life, it would be hard for them to answer. They do not know what it is like to live on land or eat non-fish meat as we do not know how it is to live on water. The more wise folk would reply with the question “Do you enjoy YOUR way of life on land?”. Most do not particularly like or dislike it. It is just what they had gotten used to and would now be commonplace for them. As we would not be able to accurately imagine how it would be for them, they would not be able to imagine what it is like for us as well. The reason is that it is what is is. A way of life.

There is a moral to this story. And I do hope that you figure it out.

The Life of a Cheetah

Life of a Cheetah

I yawned and stretched as the sun came up. My cubs were still sleeping so I slipped away from the trees we were sleeping under and headed towards the grasslands. I bounded forth, sweeping the area to find prey. I looked around and headed to the moon; opposite of the sun. Before I had barely gone two miles I heard water running and headed towards what I thought to be a stream but ended up being a small waterfall. I headed upstream and drank from the river until I noticed something moving in my peripheral vision.I turned, quick as lightning and sprang to the sound. It was a gazelle that had wanted to drink water but saw me and turned around. I chased after it between a couple trees and into the grasslands. I halted my chase and used the long, yellow grass to hide myself as I crept forth. The gazelle stopped running as it could not see me anymore. It headed the other way, towards the stream I usually drink from with my cubs. I started for the same place and planned to intercept it. I stealthily tiptoed to the gazelle not making any sound. As I got closer, it finally noticed me and started running again but it was too late. I got to my fastest speed in three seconds and jumped on to it (Cheetahs can get to 60 miles per hour in 3 seconds). I went for its throat and it was dead. I scanned the surroundings for lions or other predators that would attempt to steal my kill. I could not see any… yet. I dragged the kill to a safe place behind a tree and speedily ran to my cubs. I nudged them awake and lead them to the kill. I was tired from running and I panted heavily for the next couple minutes while my cubs dug in. After I caught my breath and we had all ate, we walked towards the stream and drank some water. My cubs still needed sleep so we then headed to a tree as we left the yellow grasslands to go back to sleep.

Breathing Underwater

Breathing Underwater

Scuba diving had always been Jack's favorite activity. He loved the water, loved swimming, and loved the ocean. He was fascinated by fishes and everything that dwelled in the water.  “I can’t wait!” He thought to himself as he went to sleep that night. As he woke up the next morning he was ecstatic. He woke up his parents immediately who originally, would have scolded him, but were now used to his enthusiasm for scuba diving. His family loaded up the car with their gear and drove to the docks. After his parents arranged the ride to their designated spot, a little left of the giant rocks protruding from the ocean, they entered their rented boat and the navigator revved up the engine and Jack began his journey. He opened his eyes not realizing when he had slept to see that they had arrived and were retrieving all of their gear from the back of the boat. Jack’s eyes lit up as he grabbed his gear and put it on. When he was ready, he dived into the water without a word. His parents followed suit and acted as nothing had happened, because they were used to him acting this way. He was a quiet kid most of the time so his parents had grown used to their child’s silent personality. When Jack had entered the water, he swam towards the first school of fish he saw. He noticed that this was a species he had not personally encountered before as he did not recognize their scales. He marveled at it for a few minutes until his parents came and they started to swim to an underwater cave that they had not been to before. He broke out into a grin. Jack could not wait.