Chapter One: The Decision
Scientists know that a jubilee occurs when a variety of factors deoxygenate the water, forcing fish to the shore. Jubilees occur in a number of places, but nowhere as often and as regularly as on Mobile Bay's eastern shore. “These 'jubilees' usually occur during the summer, providing a free feast to locals who head to shore to gather the fish up," said Grandpa Pas Grunyon. They had been discussing fatalism a theory first argued by Aristotle in some human-to-human dissertation. It would not be fate that takes Grubby on a journey it will be part of some self-actualization thing some dude named Abraham Maslow pointed out.
One thing the Grunyons taught their special kind of fish offspring was to be eclectic and educated in the forefathers of seamen liable to catch you up in their nets. The elders, a school of well-taught & experienced swordfish, marlins, dolphins, porpoises, and whales who stressed learning the art of communicating because sailors who think the fish they caught are talking to them keep them anyway and eat them; while sailors who know the fish they caught are talking to them, usually put back more than they really need and ration the rest. It is a law between water and land loving creatures the Creator made to live in harmony rather than in fear of one another.
Back at the last beach Grubby rested his fins for awhile and thought about stuff. He observed many swimmers; people surrounding this pit they went to after soaking up water particles and tasting salt on their lips. The night was dark and still very warm. This pit had wood that was glowing somehow with mini-explosions licking at the bases of these logs every second. The human faces also glowed as this firelight came bouncing over the darker and more hidden wood logs underneath. The air was very pleasant and this fire was started mostly to mix smoke with the salty environment. Grubby felt he had been given the chance of his life-time to witness something more than awaiting a female grunion for the purpose of making baby grunions !
It was almost nirvana burning in front of them. In the center as an important facet in this cycle of life, Grubby sat on his hind fins and watched sucking in water every now and then. All elements were present as people and nature came together in harmony.
Grubby fought the idea of coming together as a union. He did not want to accept any destiny that was not going to be decided by him alone. He tells a listening ear of the Great Snail his happenings these last few days.
"I was bored. It was almost seven o'clock, one hour before my scheduled appearance on Aguni Beach. Hundreds of us grunions registered last year, a month or so after we were born for the annual procreation festival. Only it was no circus, nor even fun for the grunion who didn't dig, well, digging. Like it or leave it was all the choices I had, so I left. Does that make me an evil grunion?" "No", Great Snail slowly spoke, "you just are becoming yourself and it is confusing because it is different than most expect you to be or do. Keep listening to the beat of your own drum and you shall do just fine in any watery-environment you choose to live for the rest of your time in". . .
'Adventures of Grubby Grunyon' statistics: (click to read)
