Page 2 of Without Warning
“Good.We miss you.”
“I’ll be there in a couple weeks.I’m heading into a meeting, but I wanted to tell you good luck today.You’ve got this.”
I’ve been with the aquarium here in Chattanooga for only a couple of weeks.Today I’m doing a dive in their 618,000-gallon saltwater tank.This is one of the main reasons I left Atlanta and moved here.
I wanted more opportunities.I specialize in cephalopods, but here I’m being cross-trained to work with the river otters.At my last aquarium, the staff was so large you didn’t really get chances like this, and I was never high enough in the rotation to get into the big tank.Now that I’m a senior aquarist, I finally am.
“I’m so excited.”
“Good.Oh, by the way, I got a request to list myself as someone’s boyfriend on social media.”
“You have a boyfriend?I thought you said you weren’t dating.”
“It wasn’t for me.I love you, but sometimes you are so virginal.”I can picture her shaking her head.“It was some guy saying he’s your boyfriend.Is there something I should know?”
“No.”I huff.“I don’t have a boyfriend at all.”
“Okay.I’ll deny it for you.”She giggles.“Love you.Call me later.I have news.I’m taking a job in Nashville.”
She hangs up before I can ask what she means.
She currently works in Washington, DC, and Maryland.I slip my phone into the special pocket of my bag so I don’t lose it again.
The girls and I walk along the trails in the park across the street from my building until they’ve done their business.Then I make my way to the building parking lot.
I open the back of my white four-door Jeep Rubicon, then secure the girls into their kennels.I drop them off at the doggy daycare, where they stay while I’m at work.
By the time I get to the aquarium, it’s already almost eight in the morning.My shift starts in a few minutes.
I grab my bag with my lunch and water bottle in it, lock up my car, and head inside.There are a few more cars around than usual for this time of morning, but I’m in too much of a hurry to pay attention to them.
I’ve been on shift for a couple of hours when they make the call for those of us doing the dive.We’re needed to help guide a large green sea turtle into a side holding tank so the vet team can give him medical care.
At my previous aquarium, not only did I never get the chance to dive in the huge tank, but they also made us wear logo gear and modest clothing at all times.Here, we can wear swimsuits under our wetsuits.
I grabbed my basic black bikini.It covers enough of my butt, and the top is fairly modest.Nothing like my sister would wear.
The only issue is my bosses haven’t seen all my tattoos.I have one on each arm and leg and one down my back.Every one of them is because of Delphi.She talked me into all of them.They aren’t bad.Most are just words, except for the magnolia flowers on my upper arm that I got for my grandmother.
My sister wants us to get more, but I’m not sure I want to yet.
I slip my wetsuit up to my waist and walk out of the locker room to the main tank platform.A crowd watches us, but I ignore them.We aren’t supposed to interact with guests, and that’s something I got used to at my last job.
They filmed a reality show there that followed our daily lives working with the marine animals in our care.I was featured a few times, and I hated those days.Being the center of attention has never been my thing.That’s Delphi, not me.
I tug up my wetsuit the rest of the way, self-conscious about my bikini and body.After pulling my hair back into a quick braid, I gear up with a full head cover before one of the guys helps me into my scuba pack.We have to cover our hair so we don’t introduce any products into the fragile ecosystem of the tank.
Three of us are jumping in to assist the aquarist in charge of the sea turtle.My job is to help block him from heading back into the main exhibit.
When I’m given the signal, I jump in and focus on the task at hand.I always have to stay on high alert with sharks and other animals around me.
These are wild animals, not pets.
Darrell
Normally I hate these days.I’m on the board of directors for the aquarium, just like my parents were before me.Boseman Unlimited is a major donor, so unfortunately this is part of my responsibilities.
I also have to attend the Regents Gala next week.My assistant already sent the RSVP stating I’ll be attending solo.He’s good at making sure I don’t attend functions where I’m expected to bring a date.I gave up on taking one years ago.
