On a boat,
in Grand Cayman,
in the middle of the ocean.

A cluster of tour boats are
stopped, and waiting.
Everyone gathered around
one place,
one sandbar,
one adventure.

My family and I
slowly slide into the salty ocean,
feeling the chilly waves
slowly climbing up us.
I dunk my head under the water,
the salt burning my mouth.
Still swimming,
until the squishy sand
starts to fill my feet.

Excited for what’s to come,
nervous thoughts fill my mind.

I slowly stand eager to look.,
  I see them.
But not just one, tons.
Tons of them surrounding us,
huge, grey and sneaky.

I draw my attention back to
my sister who is a little more scared,

still trying to take it all in.
“You can do it” we tell her as she
drops into the cool water.

As soon as the sand
touches her toes,
she shuffles her feet
like a crazy person,
until she joins us
and sees what we see.

We shuffle over to the tour guide,
and put our arms out as we are
instructed to do.

My sister screams a bit,
but I just stare in amazement at the,
slippery,
smooth,
soft,
creature that just swam up to me.

I slowly run my hand down its slimy back,
giving me a faint chill up my spine.
It rests itself in my arm,
but, I just stare.
I stare at the little holes they call its ears,
I stare at the long stinger floating behind it,
I stare at this crazy thing that I am holding.

A creature.
But much more than that,
A Stingray.
In Stingray City.