Sebastian the Sneaky Shark

“Well…” Sebastian’s father sighs.

“Those were the things of the past.”

Sebastian could tell that this was about to be a very long story. A long story where he would find no answers. He was just asking a short question about his father’s magic collection.

The collection stretched along the wall of his dad’s den, stuffing the coral shelves to the brim. Every time Sebastian would swim in, something new would catch his eye. There was always something shiny with the light bouncing off of the sun directly into his gaze. Sebastian would sneak in without permission to experience the new and wonderful items “from the past.”

“I wish he told me more,” Sebastian thinks, “I want to know where each one came from. What each thing does.”

The truth was that his father didn’t know that much more. He didn’t know what the objects are supposed to do or where they came from. He only knew where he picked them up, and how to use his tools and his brain to forge the magic.

But the magic was real to Sebastian.

This time, the new shiny unidentified object was much bigger than the rest. It didn’t even resemble anything he knew of. Sometimes there would be mini-versions of the chains fishermen dropped down, other times he saw a plastic floppy item that reminded him of a dolphin’s tail. But now, he could not place a single part of this thing.

It was large at the top, looped around a gazillion times, and then stuck back out straight on the other end.

Sebastian started to move closer. Hesitant at first, his father’s words echoed in his head: “Never touch anything in my collection. Understood?”

Clearly, it was not understood because Sebastian touched this large piece of metal anyway. It was cold and hollow. He noticed there were little buttons he could press down. He closes his eyes, locking them shut, and he slowly pressed his fin over the key.

He waited.

Peaked through one eye.

And waited some more.

Nothing happened. All that trouble for nothing. So much for magic.

Suddenly, he felt movement in the water and knew he had to get back to sleep without a trace. No one, especially his father, could know he was there.

He slipped back into his own den holding his breath and only exhaled once he was situated for the night. Now he could just pretend he was there the whole time. No problem at all.

Problem.

Sebastian’s father takes careful stock of the collection. He notices every small detail and writes down all his trials testing the movement of each piece and makes precise observations so everything stays in pristine condition. However, this morning upon entering his den, he found that one of the keys to this unknown instrument was stuck. It was pushed down and sitting there, possibly broken. Someone had been in his room, messing with his collection.

Although Sebastian’s father was furious, he decided to see how long this would continue. He had an inkling that it was his son and wanted to catch him in the act.

And so, unknowingly, Sebastian entered his father’s private den the next night in search of more answers.

He tapped little chains, prodded funny-looking hooks, and played with the small circular objects. But still, he wanted to know what the big thing was. What grabbed his eye the last night and now could not look away from it any longer.

Sebastian’s curious mind led him to believe that he could pick the thing up. That maybe it was something you carried.

He lifted it off the shelf but it was too heavy for Sebastian’s small body. It started to tip over, wobbling back and forth. With all his might, Sebastian pushed it back onto the shelf, falling and sinking into the sand below. At least the object was safe.

As a precaution, Sebastian left to go to sleep. He was more intrigued than ever but knew he could not risk waking up his parents.

Sebastian returned each night trying to study the object and find a way to use it. He wanted this object to become magical, like when his father uses them.

Though, he soon became discouraged. Nothing moved the way he wanted it to, nothing beamed off the light quite right, and it was all frustrating that he couldn’t find the magic like his father.

Although discouraged and increasingly frustrated, his curiosity never wavered. So, Sebastian continued to visit the collection in search of the magic.

One night, a week later, while Sebastian was once again eyeing the large metal object, he noticed something new. Something that seemed like magic. Air bubbles were popping out the top of the thing.

A light bulb went off in Sebastian’s head: if there is air coming out of the top, that means you are supposed to fill it with air.

It’s a bubble machine!

Since Sebastian knew how heavy this thing was, he grabbed ropes to tie around the top and loop it around the shelf to create a pulley system.

He successfully landed it on the seafloor safely and silently.

Sebastian whispered to himself, “Now...it’s time for the magic!”

Little did he know that his father was peering behind the door, waiting for the right moment to enter his den. But the father was curious too. He wanted to see what it was that Sebastian figured out. This was an object he too couldn’t seem to understand.

Sebastian inhaled with all his might and blew into one side of the metal.

Instead of bubbles, a loud noise came out!

He was not expecting this and so nervously he dropped the object and swam away breathless...facing away from the door as he tried to swim out, he bumped into his father who was treading water looking as large as can be, making Sebastian feel like a small incapable shark. He let out a cry of frustration and disappointment.

Sebastian’s father picked him up and asked, “Son, what is wrong? Why are you crying?”

“I can’t do it. I can’t make magic like you do. I thought I could figure it out and bring it to you and show you that I can help. I wanted to know where all of this comes from and how it works just like you and now I’m going to be grounded for life because I came in here without your permission and I probably ruined that big thing and I’m so sorry.”

Taking a deep breath, his father responds, “I forgive you. But I wished you had just asked. I tell you not to come in here because it can be dangerous. I don’t want your fin getting clipped or caught in anything. I would be happy to show you the magic but-”

He pauses, trying to find the correct words, not wanting to reveal anything that will disappoint his son.

“-but you have just found the magic yourself. I had no idea what this big metal thing did. I didn’t know it could make a sound like that, that it’s an instrument similar to the ones tucked away in my closet.”

“Son, the magic is within us, not the objects.”

Sebastian’s tears let up and he starts grinning, “Did I really figure out how it works?”

“You did, and I’m so very proud of you. But next time, you’re coming in here with me, okay? We can figure it out together.”

Sebastian happily replies, “Yes. Together.”

For the night, they went to sleep.

But from then on, Sebastian and his father worked away at the collection, writing down new observations and making new findings.

They decided to name the big metal loud instrument, a tuba: Sebastian says it’s because it looks like a tube and makes a deep “ahhh” sound.

Sebastian and his father continued to use their curiosity and excitement; their magic - to make each object come to life.