The Sloshen in the Ocean

W

ith a grin, Sal watched the port shrink as the wind pushed the Charlotte out to sea.

His grandfather stood beside him. “Watch for him, Sal. Today we are bringing him home.”

“We’re bringing the Sloshen home, Grandfather?”

“You bet we are,” Grandfather said. “The Sloshen could feed the whole town for a year and make us all rich, but he is the most dangerous whale ever born. For hundreds of years, the finest whalers have tried to kill him, but he’s never been caught.”

Sal shuddered, but he knew that if anyone could catch the Sloshen, it was Grandfather.

“The Sloshen hasn’t been seen for years, but I know we will find him this time.” A raindrop splattered in Grandfather’s beard and the clouds darkened the sky.

“Sal!” Grandfather bellowed through the rain. “Get below deck! It’s not safe up here!”

Sal ran, but a huge wave yanked him off his feet and over the side of the ship. He disappeared under the crashing waves, and everything went black.

Sal cracked his eyes open and his hands grasped sand.

The ocean lapped at his feet.

He jumped up and studied the ocean around him, but the Charlotte was nowhere in sight.

Sal wanted to cry, but he didn’t. Grandfather wouldn’t cry. He needed to be brave, but he didn’t know what to do. Then, an idea! He would make a smoke signal so Grandfather could come rescue him.

As Sal dragged branches into a pile, the ground began to shake and knocked him off of his feet.

“WHO IS TICKLING ME?” said a deep, bellowing voice.

“I AM!” he yelled.

Sal ran to the pile of branches.

“WHO IS TICKLING ME?” Laughter rumbled below Sal.

“Oh!” The voice said. “What’s your name?”

“SAL.” “Hello Sal. Let me get a good look at you,” the voice said.

A geyser of water launched Sal and the branches into the air.

He soared, arms flailing.

Then he fell passed a huge eye. “Ahhhh!!!� he screamed.

Sal squeezed his eyes shut. He was going to get eaten by a monster. But a gigantic flipper caught him.

“What are you?” Sal asked as he stared into the huge eye.

“I’m Sloshen, my little friend.”

“The Sloshen? Grandfather and I have been looking for you! But now I’ve lost him and found you.”

“I can help you!” Sloshen’s enormous mouth curled into a smile, and he launched Sal onto the island on his back.

“Hold on to something, little friend,” Sloshen said. “We are going under.”

Sal took a HUGE breath, and the Sloshen dove into the ocean.

Again.

And again.

And again.

“Hold on, Sal!”

Again and Finally, after many dives and miles, Sal sat on the island, completely drenched.

“Sloshen, look!” Sal pointed to a ship in the distance. “He’s over there!”

again they dove.

And then they appeared next to the Charlotte. Some crewmembers scattered, scared for their lives. Others grabbed harpoons and prepared to fight the ferocious Sloshen.

“STOP!” Sal cried from atop Sloshen. “Don’t hurt him!”

“Sal?” Grandfather yelled. “You’re alive!”

“Grandfather, Sloshen saved me. Please don’t hurt him. He’s my friend.”

Grandfather eyed the Sloshen, then turned to his crew. “Put down your weapons, men.”

“Thank you Sal,” Sloshen said. “I’ve never had a friend like you.”

“That’s what friends do, Sloshen. They help each other,” Sal said as he slid down onto Sloshen’s flipper.

Sloshen lifted Sal up to his eye. “I hope to see you again.”

“I will see you again Sloshen. Just look for the Charlotte.”

Grandfather gave Sal a big hug. “Sal, it sounds like you’ve had quite the adventure.”

“Yes, I have, Grandfather. He wasn’t anything like we’d thought,” Sal said.

Together Sal and Grandfather watched the setting sun. On the horizon an enormous whale breached and crashed back into the depths of the ocean.