How Much Deeper Would The Ocean Be Without Sponges?
“Hey, whatcha doing there, Big Guy?” The Guide approached his Sentinel who appeared deep in thought.
Blair and Jim were spending one of their rare days off quietly sitting on the beach. There were no criminals to chase down and no one was out to get them. It was simply a warm sunny day in Cascade. And the best of friends were determined not to waste any moment of sun.
“Not to worry, Blair, I’m not zoning,” Jim reassured his Guide. It was true that the Sentinel had been concentrating his sense of sight on the vast Pacific Ocean before them. But he had learned his lessons well from Blair. While studying the water, the Sentinel kept himself from zoning by fisting through the sand with his large hands.
“What do you see?” Blair asked as he sat beside his friend. Blair sometimes wished for Sentinel vision so that he could share some of Jim’s experiences. Keeping one hand in the sand, Jim took hold of Blair’s right wrist.
“Close your eyes and watch with me,” Jim whispered as he guided his Guide through the ocean’s depths.
“Jim, this is amazing, man!” Blair exclaimed as through his Sentinel’s eyes Blair watched a large school of salmon swim by. Across the bay, large crabs clung to rock to escape the breakers while feeding.
“Hang on Chief, we’re going in deeper,” Jim said as he tightened his grip on Blair’s wrist. To ensure his Sentinel wouldn’t zone, Blair placed his other hand over Jim’s.
“What am I seeing?” Blair whispered in amazement, his eyes remained tightly shut. “Are those sea urchins?” he asked. The spiny creatures were slowly crawling across the ocean floor. “Oh my God, shark! Jim, watch out, sharks.”
“Shush, easy Chief. We’re only watching, remember.”
“Oh yeah, but how is this possible?”
“Every once in a while the powers that be grant me a little indulgence. I can’t do this with my other senses but I can with sight.”
“Thank you.”
“For what, Chief? If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be able to give you this,” Jim said sincerely.
After a while, Blair felt Jim’s grip begin to loosen. “Jim, pull back,” Blair said softly but firmly, using his Guide voice. “Come on, big guy, I’ve seen enough. It’s time to get back to dry land.”
“Ungh,” Jim groaned as he released Blair, his hands going automatically to his head.
“Wait!” Blair quickly grabbed Jim’s hands to wipe off the sand before it got into Jim’s eyes. “You didn’t have to give yourself a headache just to show me the bottom of the sea,” Blair murmured in a soothing tone.
“It was worth it.”
“Here,” Blair began as he took off his top shirt and placed it on the sand behind Jim. “Lay down and close your eyes for a while. I’ll keep watch.”
The Sentinel did what his Guide requested. With normal human eyes, the Guide watched over his Sentinel as he rested.
“Whatcha looking at, Chief?” Jim said after an hour’s nap.
“I wasn’t really looking at anything, I was just thinking.”
“What great puzzles has that brain of yours solved? What wonders have you unraveled?”
“I haven’t solved anything,” Blair replied ignoring the slight sarcastic tone. “Actually, I have more questions.”
“Of course you do. Okay, Chief, I’ll bite. What questions should us mere mortals contemplate in order to save the world?”
“I’m not sure the answer to my question would save the world. I’m not sure if the answer to my question would make any difference at all. I’m not even sure if...”
“Sandburg!” Jim growled, cutting off another long winded lecture. “Just ask the question, Darwin.”
“Okay, but I warned you.”
“Lay it on me, Chief.”
“Here goes nothing. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?” Blair asked with a straight face then successfully ducked when Jim took a swipe at the back of his head. However, the Guide was not successful, when the Sentinel pounced with feline grace to tickle his Guide into submission. Like little boys, Jim and Blair spent the rest of their day frolicking in the sun.
The Sentinel nor his Guide nor the powers that be, ever could answer the question.
Feedback for Sabina
or email to snrn@nyc.rr.com
Return to the Something To Think About Challenge