The Face in the Wave

By Joanne Rode

Greydon is a thirteen-year-old boy who loves the sea and the creatures in it. He volunteers at Marine World and becomes convinced that the dolphins should not be kept in captivity, and devises a plan to help free them.
While surfing he gets a glimpse of an exotic creature that he thinks is a mermaid, and when he tells his friends they act like he’s crazy. His brother tells him to drop the mermaid idea. He withdraws from his brother and friends and continues his search to find what he saw. He encounters the mermaid and realizes her safety depends on her never being discovered, especially by Marine World. He tries to protect her from the fate of the dolphins by keeping her a secret. The secret becomes a wedge between him and his friends and brother.
Greydon was born with a caul, and according to legend, he can communicate telepathically. He is able to communicate with the mermaid in this way. They develop a close friendship and share many adventures. Greydon finds out that the mermaid has been seen, and is being hunted by the director of Marine World. Secrecy is no longer keeping her safe.
Greydon’s mother is in the hospital and needs a lung transplant. Her illness is a constant concern, and her fate is intertwined with the fate of the mermaid. Greydon’s desire to protect the mermaid collides with a reality that he never expected, and holds a secret he vows never to reveal.
This story is about cetacean rights, the desire to protect those we love, and the hard choices one has to make when faced with a difficult ethical dilemma.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joanne Rode
• Release date: Feb 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9781732877023

Joanne Rode

Joanne Rode is a retired librarian living in Los Angeles, California. Twenty years ago she started working as a children’s librarian while living on Maui. The births of her grandchildren drew her back to the mainland, where she continued her career as a librarian in Orange County, then later in Los Angeles. She now enjoys using her free time to write.

Book preview

BRENTWOOD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

Sometimes even with the most positive attitude, things seemed bleak. Michael Hubbard had graduated at the top of his class with a PhD in evolutionary biology, but all the smarts in the world weren’t going to help his wife. Michael looked down at Susan lying in the hospital bed and held her hand as she slept. Dr. Alan Sanders, Susan’s brother and doctor, took Michael by the arm and led him into the hallway.

How’s she doing? Michael asked.

She needs a new lung, Alan replied.

I thought you found a donor, Michael said.

I’m not certain of that. She has a rare blood type. I’m doing all I can.

I know you are, Michael said. It’s hard to see her looking this frail. She was always so curious, so fun-loving.

Even as a kid. I have a presentation. I’ll see you tonight.

Dr. Sanders strode to the podium with the confidence of a man who knows he’s highly respected by his colleagues. He looked into the expectant faces and began his presentation.

Welcome. I’m Dr. Alan Sanders. I’m head of Brentwood Memorial Hospital and founder of Brentwood Biotech Laboratory. I’m here to talk about some of the advances we’re making in biotechnology. Since their discovery, CRISPR-based systems have fundamentally transformed our ability to manipulate genomes.

A screen appeared overhead with a visual of DNA being snipped with scissors. Alan continued. We now have a DNA cutting tool. It works on any species.

DR. ALAN SANDERS

Rocky woke up from one of his many naps and lumbered to the front entryway. The old Ridgeback–Great Dane mix groaned and lay down facing the door.

Greydon plopped four placemats on the table. He looked across the room and saw the faithful friend waiting by the door for his master.

Dad must be on his way home, Greydon said.

Jake unwrapped some hamburger meat and dropped it onto the hot skillet, where it sizzled and popped. Is Rocky by the door?

Yep.

Did you set an extra plate? Jake asked. Uncle Alan will be here.

I even used the Belgian linen napkins he gave Mom.

Greydon went into the kitchen and filled a glass pitcher with water. A big pot of spaghetti boiled on the burner. Lifting a few noodles out of the pot, Jake set them on a dish to cool.

Spaghetti again? Greydon asked.

Jake sucked a cooled strand into his mouth. Feel free to do the cooking anytime.

Just asking, Greydon said. We have cookbooks.

Feel free to use them, Jake said, as he tossed a strand of spaghetti onto Greydon’s shirt.

Greydon plopped the strand into his mouth. I love spaghetti.

Michael arrived home with the boys’ uncle. Alan had dinner with the family often. He’d never married. Michael was a professor of evolutionary biology at the local university, and Alan was a medical geneticist. Michael was interested in where humans came from—Alan was interested in where they were going. When Susan was diagnosed with COPD, Alan studied pulmonary medicine in hopes of saving his sister.

Jake looked across the table at his dad. How’s Mom today?

Michael’s face tensed. About the same, hanging in there. She’s got the best doctor caring for her, though.

Thanks, Alan said. I wish my dad could have gotten this kind of treatment.

Michael shook his head. Shame he died so young. You and Susan had it rough.

This time, we’ll be relying on medicine rather than prayer, Alan said.

Susan finds a great deal of comfort in prayer, Michael said. She likes to think of your dad’s soul in some peaceful place.

Alan twirled his spaghetti around on his plate. Maybe his soul did go to some peaceful place, but that wasn’t much help to our mother. It didn’t put food on the table. His soul never took out the trash.

Those hard times are past, Michael said. Susan has a great deal of confidence in you. We all do.

Today is great. Alan slammed his hand down on the table and abruptly changed the subject. How’s swimming going, Jake? I heard you came in first in the backstroke.

Jake surveyed his dad’s tired face. I had a good meet.

Swimming takes a lot of dedication and determination, Alan said, qualities that will serve you well in life.

I just hope it helps me get into college.

How about you, Greydon? How’s your summer going?

This Saturday, I volunteer at Marine World, in the dolphin area. Jake and I went surfing today. We saw dolphins—and a girl.

You saw a girl, Jake said. I saw dolphins.

Greydon noticed his dad staring into his plate of food. Dad, I saw a girl swimming with dolphins today.

Michael looked up. Who was she? Someone from Marine World?

I don’t know. I was in the barrel. I saw this girl’s face between two dolphins and fell off my board. When I came up, she was gone.

Alan stared intently at Greydon. Swimming with dolphins? What did she look like?

I just got a glimpse of her, but her eyes were blue, crazy blue.

Where were you surfing? Alan asked.

At the Wedge. Why?

How about the three of you come out on my boat on Sunday? Alan asked. I want to hear what volunteers do at Marine World.

MARINE WORLD

Greydon watched as Sarah circled the arena balanced on the backs of two dolphins. He had come early his first day so he could see the show. Sarah’s ponytail bopped back and forth as she smiled and waved, perfectly poised on the two dolphins swimming in sync. The exuberant crowd screamed in delight as another dolphin raced around the arena splashing water on them with its flukes. Some dolphins leaped through hoops, some twirled, and some did flips. After each new trick, the dolphins swam up to Sarah, now standing on a platform, to receive their fish reward.

Greydon had been told he would be on the cleanup crew and Sarah would show him the ropes. He had pictured himself picking up trash, but when he was instructed to wear rubber boots, he knew it would be more involved.

After the show Greydon waited in the bleachers for the crowd to clear. He watched as a middle-aged man strode toward Sarah. Sarah reached down into the bucket and grabbed a fish. The man grabbed her arm. Don’t give her that fish, he said. She missed her cue.

Sarah stood up and looked him in the eye. She’s hungry.

"If she