December 2011
The Adventures of Dan [a short story]
The water gently laps the powdery sands. A cloudless sky unhinders the sun, illuminating a neglected but resilient part of the world. A roaring pride thunders through the clenching natural disasters that ravaged lands just a few weeks earlier. Thailand!
His confidence's contagious, his arrogance's alarming, his passion's promiscuous. He is in his element! The outdoors! More specifically, the clear blue waters of the Thai islands. Dan is 50% man, 45% fish, and 5% tattoo. Some say he was born in the waters off the coast of Alaska; others say he sleeps in a waterbed. No one knows the true source of his majestic swimming abilities but witnesses swear he animorphs into a mer-man like creature, servant of King Poseidon.
These new waters tickle his senses. They are exotic and exciting to him. Partaking in a guided tour of the islands, he leaps at the chance to swim and explore during the designated stops. Much like Superman's rejuvenation from the sun, Dan revitalizes himself from the water's healing embrace. It washes away his encumbering stress, bearing down upon his scars. Washing away the dramatic resolutions of property management work still fresh in his mind; months of calculations gone in a matter of nautical meters. His skin shimmers underneath the timid waves; Poseidon acknowledges Dan's presence within his realm.
Under the sea, the marine animals frollic and welcome Dan as one of their own. They teach him their ways, their delicate nuances, and their absolute loyalty. Rumor has it that as a young mer-kid, Dan almost drowned in the rough waters of Hawaii but a nearby pod of dolphins heard his telepathic cries. That day he vowed to owe a life-debt to the citizens of the seas. He is still honoring that vow. That is why Dan does not eat seafood. He feels a particular connection to sea life and it pains him to take that away after they saved his.
The sun's anger builds. Its radiant ambassador warns the epidermis with messages of a scorcher. It is a battle he cannot win. A battle he picks time again and again, despite his most trusted advisors urging him to protect the clan of Dan. Foolishly the daimo dismisses Sun Tzu's advice, "He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight." The lack of man-made protection underneath the empty heavens is an unlocked fortress for the ultraviolet warriors. The clan of Dan can only watch as their sacred temple burns. A preventable disaster but stubbornness and ignorance prevails this day. Simply put, Dan gets sunburn.
His morale dips. The lull in adventure devoted to rest and recovery. The once energetic beast slumbers uncomfortably. The gypsy foretold that only a fair maiden from an unknown land can awaken him. Her eyes are as blue as the waters he swam in and her skin is as light as the sand he laid on. Only a woman so fair can reveal his true persona, a gentleman that listens, articulates, enunciates, and smiles.
He travels deep into the capital of Bangkok now. He is fortunate enough to run into a mysterious young woman. Her stories engages and enthralls him. Her siren accent soothes his nerves; his burnt skin cools within her aura. Dan ponders her wonderful tales of life and travel. She is the fair maiden the gypsy told him about and the one he's been dreaming of. His transformation begins both physically and mentally. The secretive mumbles give way to verbose compliments. His tired eyes open fully to innocently focus upon her aesthetics. The slouching spine stiffs upward, yet, the body and form is more relaxed. His spirits soar! Sickness leaves the flesh through the determination and candor of a man awakening like the new dawn. The horrific beast turns into a dashing prince, searching for his lost princess and to take her to a whole new world.
Proof!
