The Dolphin Among Orcas

By Tom Meinerz

This story brings to light a global problem that is right under our noises, but almost invisible to our eyes.

A dolphin pod-family has a very rare occurrence; twin sister calves are born. This is followed by another, even rarer occurrence, the birth of a malformed calf.

Courage was born with a malformed back and tail. His birth brings first curiosity, but then ridicule, followed by bullying from others. He and his mother had to travel behind the pod, most often alone. But Courage overcomes his limitations and instead, turns them into an advantage.

This is an entertaining story, where children become aware of a worsening global pollution problem, for which their generation will find solutions. The story addresses what bullying is, and what may happen as a result. It also shows how perceived limitations can become unique talents, allowing for a successful life. The story has one foot in a fanciful tale, but the other foot is firmly planted in the real world, with similar events happening in nature, in the wilds.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Oct 24, 2016
• ISBN: 9781480838000

Tom Meinerz

Tom Meinerz was a survival instructor for the US Air Force and has been an avid outdoorsman, hunter, and fisherman for over forty years. Recently, he learned about the massive trash areas in the worlds’ oceans and the degree to which they have become very dangerous to wildlife. The Dolphin among Orcas is based on true events.

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Copyright © 2016 Thomas Meinerz.

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ISBN: 978-1-4808-3799-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-3800-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016916336

Archway Publishing rev. date: 10/24/2016

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 Twins Are Unusual

Chapter 2 The Pod Games

Chapter 3 Trash Soup is being served

Chapter 4 A Baby Is Born

Chapter 5 Courage Has Real Value!

Chapter 6 A Storm and a Change

Chapter 7 Shark Attack

Chapter 8 Courage among the Orcas

Chapter 9 Justice Is Served

Appendix

Introduction

H ave you ever thought about all the plastic things you find in your life? Do you wonder where all that plastic goes when you are done with it? Plastic is used for cups, lids, fast-food containers, shopping bags, and almost all packaging for toys, tools, candy wrappers, most bottles, and a whole lot more. Where does all of that discarded plastic go to when we are finished with it? Is there someone that is rounding up all that waste? Let us explore that very question.

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Chapter 1

Twins Are Unusual

O n a warm summer day, just off the coast of Baja, Mexico, crystal-clear waters cover stunning coral formations, all displaying a full rainbow of colors. In addition, the fish and fauna of the area also have stunning colors, including vibrant fluorescents. The waters are warm and welcoming for the historic event that was taking place just a few miles offshore. A dolphin named Swirl had just given birth to twin daughters, Antonia and Miletta.

Dolphins seldom have twins, so it was considered quite important that Swirl would be so lucky. The pod had increased by one more than expected, and that was good for the pod. The twins would be watched all of their lives by dolphin researchers—not human researchers watching dolphins, but real dolphin researchers—as well as by curious dolphins who wonder if there was a difference between single-born calves and twins. Everyone is curious about twins.

Swirl would become quite a celebrity for a great number of dolphin pods. To provide two babies was a real benefit to a pod and that gave the mother notoriety.

Antonia was born first, and Miletta followed. You can imagine that twins could be quite a handful, but try it with no hands and in the water. Then add two slippery young ones, looking to explore and swim around.

Fortunately, the twins were born swimmers, and both were very quick to learn. The dolphin calves survived on mother’s milk for their first year. With twins, it meant that Swirl would need extra food to supply milk for both calves. Swirl was a good provider, since she was healthy and athletic. She was one of the pod’s team protectors. And she was very good in a fight. She had proven it, once in a run-in with another dolphin pod and then with some sharks that pestered the pod one day.

Her mother, Old Mama, had named her Swirl, because she was able to completely rotate when she was just a baby. She did it so fast that it left a swirling pattern on the water. Now all her swirling was used to accommodate her twin daughters.

The first year in a dolphin’s life is for exploring and learning about the ocean. Antonia was usually the first to explore a new situation. One day, they saw a really big lobster. Its huge pincers could leave a deep, painful cut if it got a hold on a fin or a fluke.

Antonia said, Miletta, come and see what I’ve found. I think it’s something to eat, but I wonder how to keep away from those pincers.

Miletta answered, Why not get a piece of seaweed and see if you can get the thing to pinch that? You can bite it on the head when its claws are down.

It sounded like a good idea. Antonia found a strong piece of seaweed and teased the lobster with it. The lobster took the stem but with only one pincer. The other pincer was still waving around and looking quite dangerous.

Miletta said, I wouldn’t try biting it until that other pincer grabs the seaweed.

Antonia was already thinking about grabbing for the lobster’s head.