Sea Turtle

The ceiling was at one time white, or at least he hoped so. Now it was a pale yellow, with dark splotches where the water had seeped through. Rolling over, he remembered that there was no clock in the room. Lifting his arm he read 11:37. He strained to remember when he had begun his staring match with the ceiling. He sat up, u could hear the plastic cover on the mattress rub and whine. Scratching his head he stood and walked to the bathroom, on his way picking up a red toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. He turned the metal knobs on the faucet and for a second nothing came out. A rush of air shot out followed soon after by muddy brown water. He could have thrown up right then and there. He threw the brush and paste on the floor and headed for the door. Turning the handle he glanced over at his mud-ridden sandals and said, “screw it.” He fumbled for his keys and jammed them into the ignition. The old jeep lurched to a start. Flipping it into reverse, he slammed the gas, whipping the car around. He could have screamed. He felt like throwing his fist through the dash and slamming himself against the wheel. But, out of the corner of his eye he saw something swaying back and forth. Turning and focusing he saw the miniature hula dancer on his dash. Smiling, waving, and swaying. A smile came to his face. He put the jeep into first and started down the wet dark road. The trees whipped past, each one greener and taller than the last. The branch’s overhead crawled across the sky from either side. Stretching and reaching for the others across the black paved river. In a flash the trees disappeared revealing a blue-gray desert sea. He pulled off the road and parked. Opening the door he could hear the ocean calling. In the dim light all he could hear was the rhythmic crashing of the waves and the crushing of sand beneath his feet. He sat down, digging his bare feet deep into the sand. He folded his arms and starred over the water. In the distance he spotted a sea turtle floating along on its back. The turtle wobbled and then splashed upright. Bobbing for a few seconds and returning underwater. He began to laugh.