An Unexpected Day

The sun wasn't all the way up as she slowly paddled out to sea. Lying on her belly, she made long strokes from her board. She loved this time of day; the tween time. The sun was slowly coming up and the day was dawning. The energy was alive and electric but most of the world was still asleep, safe and sound in their homes and their lives. The ocean creatures were swirling about below her, just out of sight. She could sense them, but hadn't fully tuned into them yet. She was waiting for her mind to quiet. Who was she kidding though, her mind never stopped going. She'd been divorced now for many years and had grown accustomed to and loved her new found freedom and independence. She was a full time single mom and worked three jobs to support herself and her son. She didn't shy away from life or responsibilities, rather, she raced to meet them headlong. She and her son were inseparable; old souls that had embraced the ancient blood that coursed through their veins. They lived on the edges of the tween times. She rarely had time to herself but her son knew better than she when she needed it. “Go to the sea mom, she's calling you”

So here she was, paddling out into the Atlantic on this early summer day. Her seals were popping up around her. She was Selkie born. Somewhere along the way, she'd misplaced her skin….or someone had taken it from her. The details were lost to her now. All she knew is that she'd never been able to find it. She remembered having it when she was younger, and she would often slip quietly into the sea when her family was vacationing on Nantucket Island. Her parents always marveled at how she was such an amazing swimmer, learning to body surf amongst the strongest waves at Surfside, never getting caught in the undertow and able to see underwater without burning her tender young eyes. Her grandmother knew what she was, but she kept it to herself. Marguerite was Irish born, straight from the old country. She looked after the young Selkie. She wove magic about her and filled her head with stories of wonder and mystery. To others, her grandmother was an eccentric storyteller, but to her, she was her lifeline to the world unseen.

Her mind was beginning to quiet now. The thoughts of the mundane world were slowly slipping away. She was feeling the rhythm of the sea, the warmth of the rising sun on her back. Her kindred were pulling her further out to sea. She longed to join them in their world, but not just yet. The time wasn't right. So she pulled up onto an island to lie on the sand and wait for them to join her. It wasn't long before her beloved seals started pulling themselves ashore to warm themselves in the morning sun. They gathered about her like a pack of puppy dogs. They smelled warm and briny like the deep sea. They let her lie in the middle and feel their warmth and protection. They instinctively knew that she was a part of their world; she was one of them.

As she lay amongst her kindred, she could hear her grandmother's voice, “when the glass jar is full, it will be time” She had a glass globe that was supposed to hold a small candle, but instead it held sand dollars. She had begun collecting them when she was little. They always seemed illusive and hard to find, and whenever she found them and brought them inside to dry, they always seemed to disappear. At first she thought it a trick played upon her by her brothers, but as she got older, she began to think otherwise. Her grandmother had told her that once the globe was full then it would be her time to return to the sea. She began to suspect that others in her family new of this prophecy, so when she found them, she kept them to herself. Her glass orb was now about half way full. She still had time to find her skin.

But for now, she relaxed into her world. Lying on the island with her pod of seals, she could breathe easy. She could feel their energies intertwine. She listened to their stories and felt their love. The world of the sea; this was her world. But her world was also of the land. She had a life there and she would not leave her son to be a land dweller without her. He too had selkie blood coursing through his veins, though it was also mingled with wolf and crow. He was a mystical blend and often times felt like a misfit in this world. Just as it was with her grandmother, it was her job to help him navigate this world and not become too frustrated or lost when others didn't or couldn't understand.

She turned her thoughts from her son to the here and now. She relaxed into her rookery and momentarily dozed off. Once the pod was warm and dry they started to move about and head back to the water. They called to her in their seal tongue, a language she understood as clearly as her own spoken word. “Muirin, it's time to play”. When she was younger, she was often teased for not having a “normal” name like “Jane” or “Sally”. Instead, her parents gave into her grandmother's wishes and named her “Muirin”. According to her father, his mother had been MOST insistent that this be her name, as it meant “born of the sea” to the ancient Celts. Her friends and family often called her “Maureen” in an attempt to normalize the name, but her grandmother never did.

Muirin turned to her seals and slowly walked in the water. The Atlantic was still so cold but she tried not to flinch. She finally dove head first into the sea and joined her brothers and sisters as they swam. Even without her skin, she felt sleek and streamlined. No longer tripping over her own feet, she felt that she could swim for hours. She felt the strength return to her limbs and she felt agile as she raced to and fro around seaweed and rock. Her underwater home. One day she would return, but not today.

Today, the sun was moving further into the sky and it was time for her to return to land. She and her son had a full day planned, but this was the retreat she needed for just a little while. As she climbed onto her board, she laid on it for a while so she could commune with her kindred for just a little while longer. This was always the hardest part. They were always so happy to see her come and so sad to see her go. They too would have to wait a while longer. One of the seals brought her a sand dollar for her collection. One step closer to being full, one step closer to returning to who she was.

As she paddled back to shore the summer sun was shining in the brilliant blue sky. That color blue that leaves you gasping at the wonder of it all; that blue that makes you believe anything is possible. She stopped for a moment to peel off her wetsuit, leaving it hanging about her waist. The sun slowly warmed her chilled body, making her wriggle and move sinuously while standing on her board. Peeling the suit off in this way always reminded her of peeling off her sealskin. Her long red hair hung lazily down her back. She hadn't cut in years. Selkie hair, wild and untamed. As time had gone by, the red had become increasingly replaced by silver and white, which now glistened and shimmered in the bright sun. Her curls always had a mind of their own. The errant tendrils hung about her face; she was forever blowing them out of her eyes and mouth. She was a selkie, water borne; she knew how to flow and be accepting of what is and was always awaiting what would be. She knew no other way.

As she approached the rocky shore, her keen eyes noticed a figure perched upon a rock. A sentinal of sorts, an observer. She hadn't noticed this when she went out, but then again, she had been gone a while. What threw her off was the energy coming at her. She knew the observer was a “he”, and he was watching her.

As she got closer to shore, she noticed the observer followed her with his eyes, his gaze never wavered. He was perched upon his rock like a bird. Yes, that was it, like a bird. Like a crow. He was a shapeshifter. Crafty, often mischievous ones they were. At least she knew what to expect.

She pulled up onto shore and began to gather up her belongings. The winds were suddenly picking up and she was thankful to be back on land. Board, paddle, water bag. She took a swig of hot tea from her water bottle and began to walk. She carried her board on her left side, to create a barrier between her and this crow. She would have to walk within feet of him and he still hadn't moved. As she began to walk, he hopped down from his perch and began to approach. Her heart beat faster but she was still wearing her post seal glow and she was determined not to let him ruin it.

As he walked towards her she mused, “Gorgeous morning to be on the water. Hope you're enjoying your day!” Better to be polite and engage, but keep on moving.

He walked alongside her now and she let this go on for a moment or two and then stopped. She looked him straight in the eyes, unwavering, determinded to address this one so she could go about her day unhindered.

“May I help you?”

He smiled. It was a devilishly handsome smile, both of his dimples showed. She was a sucker for dimples. Medium height and athletic build. She normally wasn't drawn to men with brown or black eyes, but his eyes were different. They spoke of times gone by, of a deep soul, of kindness and sorrow. He was a shape shifter alright, but not entirely shifty as it were. Nonetheless, she kept her board in place.

“I have something for you Muirin.”

“Do I know you?” she asked.

“Yes, and no. You'll remember in time. Take this to add to your journal collection. It's a special one and you'll understand as soon enough. For now, let me put it in your water bag for you. Go home and tend to your son. You two have a full day planned. You'll find me, again when you're ready”

Muirin stood still, stock still. If you knew anything about her, she wasn't ever still. She was incapable of standing still. The ocean ran through her veins; she forever swayed to it's rhythm. She was always getting in trouble when she was younger, “stop fidgeting Muirin” or “good gawd child, do you have to go the bathroom” or “please stop moving so we can take your picture”. Even now she had to move when she was talking on the phone; when she cooked she stood in funny poses and when she walked, she walked to her own, indescribable rhythm. Moving, always moving.

Not now though. She was still. She even forgot to breathe. She let out a huge gasp, like one who just swam to the surface and tasted that first sweet gulp of fresh air.

“How do you? What did you? Who are you?” A woman who always had words to say, Muirin was now at a complete loss. She stumbled upon her words like one walking barefoot in a room full of marbles.

This stranger brushed her bare, wind blown cheek. Her skin tingled under his touch. It was electric. He smirked.

“All in due time” he said. He stared into her eyes briefly and started to walk off.

She came back to her senses and yelled “Were you going to give me a book?” She realized she must have sounded like a spoiled child and color immediately flushed to her cheeks.

He stopped and turned around.

“It's already in your water bag. No need to be embarrased about asking me Muirin. Trust me, it's in there”

She instinctively put her hand to see if her cheeks felt hot, flush with color.

“I'm not embarrassed, it's a windburn” she called out.

He turned around again, with a coy smile, “Uh huh”

She looked down to her water bag. When had he done that?

She stood for a moment more and put down her board. She needed a drink of her tea. Kelp tea to ground her back to the present. Her grandmother had taught her to mix fresh kelp and water and slowly bring it to a boil. It was the lifeblood that chased away darkness and kept her whole. It kept her in tune with the sea.

As she slowly took a few sips, she felt herself return. Such an odd experience, but real nonetheless. Within the bag she could see the journal, black and smooth. Instinctively she knew it was soft to the touch. She could feel its energy. She wanted to take it out but it's voice said “not now”.

No, not now. The shifter was right, a full day awaited both her and her son. She gathered up her board and she continued to her car. She hummed as she walked and a seagull joined in from overhead. There was an extra spring in her step and sparkle to her eyes.

“My, what an interesting day it has been thus far” she thought to herself….”and something tells me, more is yet to come.”

From a hidden place the shifter said to himself, “Oh Muirin, you have no idea that inside that book is $20,000. It will change your life in unexpected ways, but you will have choices to make...”