OCTOPUSHED

I did not *kidnap the Octopus; she jumped in my backpack as I cruised out the Aquarium.

Nobody’s accusing you of that, son. This is just such a phenomenal story we have to document The Facts. The journalists are going to have some questions, animal welfare. I know this is a BIG change for you. Thank you for your time and coming down to the station. Deep down I think you knew it was the right decision. I’m glad you didn’t delay. Now I have just a few questions for my report…

When did you first notice The Octopus was in your backpack?

I still can’t believe this has happened. When I was waiting at the bus stop outside The Aquarium. She must have jumped in as I was rolling out. Ever since The Accident, I go there a lot to draw. Most people get uncomfortable and leave, so I always get the best views. I had been watching the cephalopod tank for a while because I wasn’t sure I could adapt and they must know what it is like to lose limbs, God gave them so many.

What was your reaction?

I didn’t want to make a bigger mess of things. Dad already blamed himself. Ever since Mom died, he’d been going through bereavement. He didn’t know what to say to me. He made an ultimatum that I had to start going to physical therapy, but I just wasn’t ready.

When I saw Her, I thought She was going to die, she looked like she was suffocating.

So you were concerned about the animal’s welfare. What did you do next?

I rolled back but the doors were locked and nobody was around. I saw the pet shop nearby was still open, so I swung over there to get Her some water.

Why didn’t you bring the Octopus back to the Aquarium?

She told me she was in labor and would lose her young if she didn’t have an oceanbirth. I had a lot of anger, I was a free spirit and an artist but I didn’t want to be put in a box. It all seemed like SO MUCH WORK. I felt powerless and unfairly deprived. Just a kid in a wheelchair with physical and cognitive "challenges".

What did you do next?

I wanted to keep doing things the way they’ve been done. Keep things structure oriented. I just needed more “alignment”. That’s what My Parents were arguing over during The Accident. Mom had too much to drink, Dad disagreed. She said everything would be alright. It wasn’t. I left a bunch of food for my dad and hitchhiked to Galveston Beach. We used to go there when I was little. If you’re not careful, there are a ton of jellyfish that could sting you. A trucker picked me up when he saw me motoring down the shoulder with a red wagon and a tank of water. I was making promises to change in the hope of bringing back what was lost. My dead mother. Shouldn’t have been driving. Coming back from an event. She’s kind of blurry. A cloud of smoke. A memory on the wind. The truck driver had prosthetic legs. He said he had killed a family when he was a drunk. He found God, cleaned up his Act and started driving. His Wife was expecting their third child This Christmas.

I’m much too young to get across to San Diego by myself. She said the Gulf of Mexico is close enough this time of year that her younglings would have a good chance.

So this was the end of your relationship?

Yes and no. Once the weather gets a little better I plan to take a trip back out there and see if I can run into any of her children. Maybe she told them about me on her way out.

Dad even said he’ll drive me. Mom would have wanted it that way.

Great, thank you for your time.