Not Today

Not Today

Shore Renolds awoke to the sound of a car horn blaring. “Ugh.” She muttered pulling her beach blonde curly strands from her face,and peeking at the clock on her nightstand. 8:28am “Dad you can't be serious! It way too early.” Paul was sitting in his yellow rubicon jeep, tapping on the steering wheel to Lizzo’s hot single ‘Water me’. Paul was Shore’s dad, he was a marine biologist who specialized in the study of shark ecology and reproduction. Today was a celebratory day, because a great white shark that Paul and his team tagged is due to give birth. Paul looked up at his daughter's bedroom window and beeped the horn several more times, to get her attention. “Dad, I need a shower!” she yelled from her window, leaning against the window frame. “We’ll good morning Shore! Plane leaves in an hour, Do you want to explain to your mom why we’re late?” Paul was a middle aged man with blonde sunkissed hair, that he always styled in a man bun, ocean blue eyes, clean shaved face and strong physique. “I’ll be in and out, suitcase is already packed!” She pleaded. “The longer you stand here and talk to me the later we’ll be.” Paul yelled back up to the window then turned his music back up. Shore rolled her eyes and slammed the window, walking by her calendar on her wall that showed another no show menstrual.

Paul’s cell phone began to ring, he looked at the screen and read “Diane.” Diane was Shore’s mom and his ex newly divorced wife. They also shared a shark research and conservation program. “Good morning beautiful, How are you?” He answered. “I'm nervous, I'm scared, I'm excited, and anxious. Where are you? Is that the house?” Diane asked her beautiful south african features piercing Paul’s eye through the phone. Her colgate smile warmed his heart, she had a giving heart and model stature. “Yes, Your child is in the shower!” Paul replied fixing his sunglasses in the rearview mirror. “My child? What does she do? She's only my child when she does something that you don't approve of!” “Aye, no biggie! Today is an awesome day. Let's not ruin the vibes with our teenagers drama.” Diane laughed. “I agree. I guess call me when you’re on the jet. The weather is beautiful here in Mex-I-Co!” Paul smiled “We’ll see you soon Love.” Diane turned her camera around to show him the view. As Paul stared at the screen he noticed a fin. “Wow is that Sidney?” “Yes! She’s huge, ready to give birth any moment, yea? So hurry!” “Yes, wow, yes… see you soon!” He ended the call as Shore ran out of the house, suitcase in hand and dripping wet hair. “Dad, you okay?” Shore asked noticing the serious expression on his face. “Yea Sweetie.” Paul said nodding his head. “Lets go, lets go!” he said clapping his hands together. “I was just on the phone with your mother. She showed his Sidney and she is huge! The average great white, when pregnant is 13 feet in length and 1,565 lb.” “Okay?” Shore asked getting in the jeep. “She looked to be about 16- 17 feet, if not 18 and well over two thousand pounds.” “You sound worried dad!” she joked. “Paul laughed as he pulled out of their driveway. “Never worried sweetheart, you must not know your old man!”

Shore stared out the window of their seaplane at the crystal clear waters of Guadalupe island. It was a small volcanic island, off the west coast of Mexico, where both south african and Australian sharks are known to call home, during certain times of the year. “Sweetie, that's where we’ll be staying.” Paul announced as he pointed to the private resort that sat along the beach. “Okay, cool. It's beautiful! Oh look I see mom, yay!” She exclaimed. “And what a sight

she is!” Paul whispered to himself. He still loved Diane and only her but he respected her choice to leave their marriage. Diane wore a yellow sundress, her wild curls high in an updo, and rose quartz stud earrings to compliment her honey brown complexion. “Mom!” Shore yelled as they deboarded the seaplane, running to Diane. “Hello baby girl, It's so good to see you. How was the flight? Are you hungry?” Diane asked with a warm embrace. “The flight was good, I mostly slept.” Shore giggled. “You know i'm always hungry ma.” “Great, I have a nice vegan platter for you, you will love it.” Diane smiled, placing a piece of Shore hair behind her ear. “Paul… Do you need assistance with the luggage?” Paul looked up from grabbing the luggage and waved his hand no.” “So my child, fill me in… what's been going on, for the two weeks i’ve been gone?” Diane quizzed interlocking her arm with Shore.

Later that night, Diane, Shore, Paul and a couple members of the crew were having dinner. They enjoyed laughs and shared experiences. “Guys, I love but I'm beat. I’m going to bed.” Shore said getting up from the table. “Good night baby girl.” Diane said Kissing her daughter's cheek. “Good night Dad.” Shore said, hugging her father. “Night Sweetie,” he replied, kissing her forehead. “No More wine, if yall wanna get up early!” Shore said, shaking her finger at them. “Maybe she's right.” Diane giggled while taking a sip of her merlot. “Yeah maybe.” Paul laughed. “Goodnight guys.” The team said before they disappeared into the hallway. “So, I wanted to talk to you about Sidney.” “What about her?” Diane asked Paul. “Well you've been working with her more than I have, so i just wanted you to bring me up to speed. What are her measurements?” Paul asked after swallowing his wine. “Well last measurements were yesterday, She is 18 feet long and 2,586 lbs, with a litter of 16 pups.” Diane said matter of factly. “What! This is incredible and astonishing. Yet I'm concerned for us being in the water during birth. You don't think she’ll view us as a threat?” “Absolutely not! If anything , I feel like I'm her doula!” Diane laughed. ”Relax Paul, this isn't our first rodeo!” She reassured me. “Yeah, you're right. I just need some sleep.” He said, rubbing his eyes. “My darling, may I escort you to your room?” Diane smiled as she got up from the table, “Yes please!”she answered, grabbing his hand.

The next morning Shore meant her dad at the dock, he was already on the boat loading the equipment. She was feeling stressed because her menstrual still hasn't arrived. “Please don't let me be pregnant, my parents will kill me!” She thought to herself as she walked along the dock. “Good Morning Shore, Can you pass me the other oxygen tank?” “Sure, Where is mom?” “She left at the crack of a draw with the team. I can't wait to see Sid! He exclaimed, assisting her onto the boat. “I haven't been scuba diving since I was fourteen. I hope I don't forget the basics.” She nervously responded. “Nonsense, it's like riding a bike and you've always been a great swimmer.” “Thanks dad.” “You’re welcome, sweetie. So this is your last year of high school… Any college plans?” He quizzed as the boat took off. “Not any in particular. I haven't even thought about majors. Although I love the ocean, marine biology is you and mom thing.” “I respect your choice, but time and life waits for no man nor woman!” “Noted! Shore smiled up at her dad. “I can see the station where mom is located.” Paul announced looking out at sea at the floating research center that sat in the middle of the pacific ocean. “Dad, Dad look! It's Sidney, she's on the left side of the boat.” Before Paul could get a good look, Sidney went under the boat, then came up ahead of the boat. “She’s about 18 feet, my god! Do you see the size of her?

Those pups must be gigantic. I'm ready to get in the water.” Paul exclaimed, preparing his scuba gear. “Shore are you getting in?” “Dad, I would love to say she's a bit intimidating!” “She's beautiful, and if you let your mom tell you she's the sister we never gave you.” Paul joked. “Come on, it's a once in a lifetime experience! You know you are always safe with me and your mom. If you feel uncomfortable, I will personally escort you to the center.” Reassuring her with his hand over his heart. “Okay dad!” Shore said finally caving in. “Great suit up!” Shore followed her dad's instructions but she felt unsettled in the pit of her stomach. “Okay sweetie, first thing first, can you hear me clearly?” “Yes.” “Okay now, check your gage to make sure you have a full tank.” Paul instructed as he checked his own. “100% dad.” “Okay, do you feel comfortable?” “Yes dad.” “Okay we’re ready to dive. Sharks give birth in depths of 3,700 meters. Are you okay diving that deep?” “Yes dad.” “Are you ready?” Paul asked. “ As I will ever be!” Shore joked “I see you guys have your scuba gear on. I'm heading in the water now. Sidney should go into active labor at any given moment, she will dive when it's time. I'm so excited to see these pups.” Diane's voice took over the helmet. “3,700 meters right?” Paul asked. “Right!” Diane confirmed. “Looks like Sid is diving. Let's follow, yeah?” Paul nodded his head to Shore and jumped into the water. The water was the perfect temperature, clear and crisp. “Dad, a bull shark to your right.” Shore announced as the past a reef. “Well hey young fellow.” Paul greeted me. “Stay with me guys, you don't wanna miss this birth.” Diane said, swimming ahead of them. “We’re right behind you mom. Ouch.” “ I heard you say ouch, are you okay? What happened?” Diane asked concerned. “I'm a good mom, just a little cramp.” Shore informed her mom. “Hurry up guys, I think it's happening.” Sidney suddenly stopped and they noticed a head coming from the canal. “Wow, Dad, would you look at that?” Paul was silent. “ Dad, are you seeing this? Dad?” As Shore turned to look at her father, Paul had a frightened look on his face. “Diane we have to go, like right now!” Paul yelled into the helmet. “ Paul, what are you talking about?” Diane asked to swim closer to where he and Shore were. “Oh shit! Shore, were you expecting your menstrual today?” Diane asked as she watched blood drip from Shore bikini bottom. At that moment Sidney and her newborn pup smelled Shore drop of blood. Shore go now! Your mom and I will try to hold them off.” “Paul she just gave birth to the second pup, there is a third one on its way out as she is in mid swim in ya'll direction.” “Dad, I'm scared.” “Shore, you're gonna swim like your life depends on it because it does.” “Dad!” “Shore now!” Paul yelled as Sidney and her 5 feet and 77 lbs hungry newborn pups swam straight at him.