The intercom buzzes to life as all twenty six of us turned and stared at the ceiling, the cheese grater of doom called out to give, me of all people, a message. Don't walk home, she's coming to get you at three. Of course she is, she's my mom and she'll be here a three to pick me up. So I sat there in my desk doodling cartoons of what me and mom might do. We might go to the doctor to get another shot, we've been doing that alot. We could go see Ernie, but he's with his new wife and I don't think they want us to come over today. I didn't care what assignments I had to do
I sat there in suspense, waiting for three o'clock so I could find out where me and Mommy were going. My eight year old legs pounded the floor as I raced through the hallway towards the stairs, Mrs. Caruso called out to me teling me that I better not forget my homework and that there would be a quiz on it tomorrow. But she knew I would never forget my homework, Mommy always made sure I did it so I would be an 'A' student.
Sprinting down the hallway, darting past kids I didn't need to know, I flew down the stairs two by two into the main hallway, turning left I made my way through the first graders to the parent pick-up spot and stood there grinning from ear to ear. The blue green car that waited four cars down held the one person who completed my world and it was all I could do to keep myself from running through the streets to her car, so I waited, anxiously.
I ran towards the car, it's glass shone wide in the florida sun, I'm such a geek for the sun. My blonde hair waved in the breeze, it never seemed to fail to be windy on the days mom picked me up. She opened the door graciously and welcomed me back from school, asked the normal mom questions and smirked like she knew something I didn't, and she did. I asked inquizzatively where we were going since she only picked me up on special occasions, otherwise I walked home with all of my friends. She wouldn't say...
The surface tension of a glass of water couldn't even describe how excited I was when she headed down I-4, the local traffic jammed highway of Central Florida. The car slowly shifted to the side as I noticed the song on the radio was the one I requested. My heart jumped and I asked to turn the radio up, it was my song mom! She nodded and we continued on our way, my childish innocence showing like a pregnant woman's stomach after 8 months. I shook my hair and screamed out the top notes as mom checked the rearview mirror for cops, no way were we going to get pulled over, no not us, not today.
These flashbacks have been happening quite frequently now, the memories jogging my cerebrum every now and then to keep me on my toes. I can't break you know... Chefs don't break.
I-4 was clear that afternoon, no wrecks or bodily injuries to speak of and the sun showers were just enough to take the heat off of the day. My yellow sundress wrapped around my frame and I giggled, pestering my mother even more about our destination, I was curious and I NEEDED to know. After all, you should never keep secrets from eight year olds.
I saw all of the normal signs pass by, but one caught my eye. It was the exit sign for Sea World and the exit was coming up next, boy oh boy did my eyes get big. The smile on my face tripled in size as I hugged my mother and screamed, we were going to Sea World and I, yes little miss Stephanie, would feed her first penguin.
Uncle Rocky gave us the passes for Christmas for SeaWorld and we had yet to use them, so mom thought it was a good way to both get us out of the house and use the gift before it got lost. I beggeed my mom to let me use MY card to get our free parking and MY name for the locker we got at central station. My heart was racing.
We fed the manatees, sting-rays and sharks, went through the 2000 leauges under the sea ride, watched the shamoo show, met David Hasselhoff when he opened the BayWatch scene, and went to the Wild Artic. Me and her always had a thing for polar bears, always, so we went to see them. Of course there were the baluca whales that blew spit al over us, the penguins which I got to feed (My love started here), but what really sticks out in my mind were the walruses.
She peered down into the window and laughed as the walrus moved it's flipper from it's eye and made a face at her. She giggled and called me over. The walrus was playing peek-a-boo with my mother and I cried. Mother hasn't been this happy in years and all it took was a tired walrus. We took pictures of them, all of the artic animals and I hugged my mom tightly telling her that I would become a walrus if she would stay happy.
She hugged me back and led me to the Clyde and Seymore show, I loved seals. I'm a kid in my own animal kingdom, I love them all. Clyde bounced a ball between the audiance and the pool, spraying the first row with water. Seymore got on the truck with the two handelers and went to 'search' for the missing Clyde who was hiding in the deep end of the pool. I jumped up when they asked for a volunteer and was chosen, Seymore didn't think I was strong enough, but I showed him. I showed him real good. I shook his flipper with all my might laughing as he barked and nodded that I WAS strong. Of course I am, I'm my mother's daughter.
We searched back stage for Clyde, he had moved of course, going from one tank to another, to hiding back stage and then finally sitting next to my mother in the grand stand. I got to hug to seals named Clyde and Seymore before I passed out in the front seat of my mothers car.
All the memories in the world won't bring her back, but they keep her alive in my heart and that's where I'll keep her. Not only is that where she belongs, but I can keep her safe there, and I can make her smile because I still remember the walrus... Even if no one else does.
R.I.P. 5/25/56 -- 5/24/00
I'm moving hooommmmeee!!!! <33