Shannons' Scar

Shannons’ mum used to work in an aquarium. That’s why she loves fish and crabs and dolphins, but mostly, sharks.

This kid at school calls Shannon ‘Shannon the shark girl’ and it used to make her cry, but now that she’s all grown up at age 11, she knows that he was just upset because he doesn’t get to see the sharks after closing time.

Her favourite is Scar the Sand Tiger Shark. She got to name him because he came to live at the aquarium on her 6th birthday. He has a huge scar around his belly because he ate a really sharp fishing hook by accident and they had to give him an operation and now he can’t live in the wild anymore.

Now that her mum doesn’t feed Scar anymore, because her baby sister was born, Shannon has to wait 8 months, 4 days and 3 hours to see Scar again. This is when Shannon’s Mum goes back to work after maternity leave. Mum did say that she might be able to see him before that, but she will need someone to take her and adults are awfully busy.

Today, though, Mum is packing up all of the baby stuff into the pushchair and tucking her oyster card into her coat pocket. Although, Shannon, as always points out that it is not actually an oyster, in fact, it has nothing to do with oysters and would be far more appropriately named an ‘underground card’. Mum tells Shannon to grab her waterproof and carry her own backpack.

‘Where are we going?’ Shannon asks, shouting over the buzzing and banging of the tube.

‘You’ll see. It’s a surprise,’ Mum replies.

After lots of rattling and tall men in suits and families with cameras and crying children, Shannon’s mum bundles the three of them together and leads the way out of the tube.

As they approach the street, leaving the damp smell of wee behind, the sun bursts onto Shannon’s face as the clouds part as if just for her. Of course, Shannon realises that the wind just blew the clouds out of the way, but she is thankful none-the-less to be greeted with sunshine after a claustrophobic and very smelly journey. Past all of the other tourists,

Shannon suddenly realises where they are.

‘I knew this was the right station. Why did we get the train? We always get the bus,’ Shannon exclaims.

‘So that you wouldn’t see where we were going, silly. Otherwise, it’s not much of a surprise.’

Shannon’s sister niggles in the buggy beside them. Shannon’s mum wiggles and rocks the buggy automatically, making Shannon’s arm wobble as she clutches onto the handle as to not get lost.

Through waists and shoulders of crowds, across the bridge and past the smell of cheap burgers and screaming children, Shannon sees the aquarium. Shannon bolts for the employee entrance.

Her mum follows behind, shoving the buggy through the small gaps her daughter had made, shouting variations of ‘Slow down!’ and ‘Watch out, Shannon!’ over the strangers heads for the words to fly past Shannon’s ears like passing pigeons.

Shannon’s breath heaves as she knocks on the Staff Only door. Her Mum catches up, eventually, the baby crying from being woken up by the commotion. As the buggy reaches the door a familiar face emerges from behind the door.

‘Password,’ a burly man asks.

‘Sand tiger sharks are the best,’ Shannon whispers.

‘Enter.’

He steps aside and Shannon runs in and squeezes the man so tight he might burst, rambling about how she was worried she would never ever see him or Scar again because her sister will never ever grow up and Mum will have to stay home forever and ever and ever…

Shannon’s mum smiles apologetically.

‘Sorry about this,’ Her mum says as she attempts to hoist the buggy inside.

‘It’s good to see you again,’ he replies, peels Shannon from him, then lifts the front wheels of the buggy.

Adults in all sorts of aquarium uniforms crowd Shannon’s mum.

‘Mum,’ Shanon taps her Mum’s shoulder. ‘Muuuuum.’

‘Yes, Pet?’

‘Can I -’ Shannon starts.

‘Yes, go see him.’ She smiles.

The wind flies through Shannon’s long blonde hair. Her trainers pound the squeaky floor as she rushes towards the tunnel. Scars’ tunnel.

Once she reaches the glass, she slows, presses her palms against the thick barrier and breathes. Her breath fogs up the clear window and a dark mass slowly floats towards her.

‘Scar!’ She yells. Children turn and parents frown at the unattended child. Employees keep a close eye on her, recognising her as soon as she says the sharks’ name.

Scar’s tail swishes as he feels her nearby and re races towards her. His nose bumps the glass as she presses her nose to the foggy arch of condensation that she had left behind. Scar swishes and glides, muscles pulsing beneath this thick layer of armour. He swims up and down the tunnel and Shannon races him, turning around and laughing. Scar floats above her, a generous rest, only to race her down the other side of the glass.

Once Shannon has caught Scar up on what it is like to have a baby sister, and how boring not seeing him every single day is, they both sit (or float) next to each other for a while.

Shannon’s Mum appears at the end of the tunnel.

‘Looks like he missed you,’ her mum’s voice echos through the purple-is lighting given off by the tank.

Shannon nods.

Scar puts his nose back to the glass. Shannon leans in to meet him.

‘I wish people would stop hurting your friends,’ she mumbles.

Scar bumps the glass between them.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe,’ she says.