“And to your left, you’ll see our human exhibit!” the perky green-haired Martian exclaimed. She swept her arms out in welcome. “Exhibit 51!” Young aquarium viewers oohed and ahhed, taking pictures on small devices that fit in their webbed hands. They paddled closer around the glass tank, shoving each other to get a better view.
“We keep the water balmy for them, unlike our regular subterranean sea temperatures. Humans hail from Earth—”
“Eeeee-aair-rrrth,” one of the kids sounded out, bubbles blossoming in front of their whiskered snout. “Earrrrr-th.”
“—and because their planet is closer to the sun, they’re used to warmer waters than we tend to like living in. Of course, we’re still tinkering with what environment suits their needs best. Our humans are, after all, the first of their kind that we’ve managed to keep in captivity, so it’s a learning process.”
The Martian children and the tour guide watched the humans. For some reason, the strange creatures weren’t using the entire bottom half of the tank, instead seeming to prefer the upper region above the water. They paddled, poking a portion of their bodies into the air, where the light of a harsh UV replacement bulb hit them squarely in the face.
Even through the glass, the Martian aquarium visitors could see the bright, florid scarlet of their bodies. It appeared cracked and peeling in some places.
“Why don’t they use their whole tank?” one kid asked, sucking on a lollipop covered in an orange, lint-like substance.
The tour guide smiled and bobbed her head in a nod. “Very astute of you to notice that! We don’t know precisely why they don’t enjoy their whole tank, and—”
“They’re ugly,” one younger-looking child whined. She furrowed her brow and wiggled her antennae in frustration. “All red and pinky-looking like that.”
The tour guide let out a weak chuckle, her smile somewhat deflating. “Ah yes, that. Well, we’re not entirely certain as to why our humans have turned all red. Our resident veterinarians think that maybe the pH of the water in their tanks isn’t quite right, or that perhaps their present skin condition is simply an allergic reaction to the food we’ve been feeding them. As I said, it’s a process to figure out what keeps our humans happiest and healthiest!”
Some of the older kids in the group were whispering. A taller one pointed to the UV bulb. “I don’t think they like their light.”
The tour guide tittered, letting out a jingling laugh that she’d obviously used many times. “And now what makes you think that?”
The tall kid frowned. “They’re all hiding in the shade. Maybe they prefer the dark?”
“That would be up to our resident veterinarians to decide,” a deep voice responded.
The kids looked up to see a very tall Martian standing behind the group.
“Dr. Hgio;raehtip!” the tour guide gasped. “Children, this is one of the foremost researchers on staff here at the aquarium!”
The researcher bowed his head, acknowledging the compliment. He turned to the child who had suggested the humans preferred the dark. “So you think we should experiment with a different lighting set-up?” The child nodded.
Dr. Hgio;raehtip furrowed his brow and his antennae rubbed themselves together. “It could be worth a try,” he mused. He gestured to the tour guide, and she immediately motioned for another worker, who then went through a door to the inner workings of the aquarium. Moments later, the lights in the humans’ tank snapped off. A screech sounded, muffled through the water and the glass.
“Do they like it?” the kid asked, tilting their head up to the top of the tank, where the humans still loitered.
Dr. Hgio;raehtip pursed his lips. “Unsure. It could also simply be mating season, and that’s just a call their kind makes. It will require more research.” He nodded to the tour guide. “You all will just have to return in a month or so to see how they’ve adjusted!”
The tour guide grinned and conducted the children in a chorus of thank yous to Dr. Hgio;raehtip. The researcher graciously inclined his head and accepted them all as the guide moved on with their tour.
He turned back to the humans, watching them paddle. They weren’t very graceful creatures. In fact, they were now splashing about rather madly. He pulled out a pad of paper and a pen, clicking the nib out. Their new behavior would require more study.
A smile quirked on his snout. He loved his job and relished the challenge that Exhibit 51 presented to him.
About the Creator
Kristen Tejera
Why do we set cake on fire once a year?
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Comments (1)
Love the tone and concept of this :) So fun!