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The Emerita's Pupil
Soon, there will be. Everywhere goes, will cause people to roll their eyes or cringe at presence. When goes to the park by the lake, people will stare, even if is just sitting quietly in the sun. When goes for a swim, everyone will get out of the water. Everyone will be frightened by the way the water moves over body. People will fear that condition is contagious. When people demand to know whether is a boy or a girl, will try to explain that is a hole like everyone else. When people demand to know whether is a person, will try to explain that is a hole just like all the others. People will not like this. Everyone will think is insulting everyone’s intelligence. “We are not holes and neither are you!” People will insist. “If you are a hole then to whom are we speaking?” And again and again will explain the only way will know how: “Am a hole like everything else.”
One day, while walking along the beach, will meet a wise friend. Will be looking down, mind wandering over the sand, when right in front of, a tiny patch of sand will disappear.
“Oh!” Will exclaim. “What’s that?” Will get low to the ground to investigate, and where the little patch of sand had been, will be a beautiful little hole.
“Hello?” Will say.
“Hello.” The little hole will say.
“How did you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Appear.”
“What do mean?”
“Well, there was no you, and now there is one.”
“That’s not true. Well, maybe for others, for the sky. For me, I’ve been here all along.”
“Well then where were you before you were you-for-the-sky?”
“Under the sand.”
“Oh.” Will ponder that. “So you were a hole inside the sand?”
“A hole?… Well yes, I suppose I am still a hole inside the sand. But I’m also an emerita.”
“You are? What’s that?”
Then just as quickly as the little hole had appeared, the little hole will disappear, and where the little hole had been will be a little beige ellipsoid with a confusing tuck of appendages facing.
“Holy Moly!!” Will chirp.
“Exactly!” the emerita will confirm, and when she speaks, gaps will open and shift in her crumpled frontside.
“Exactly what?” Will ask.
“I’m a holey-mole-crab like said.”
“Huh?”
“Well I’m a mole crab, and as pointed out a minute ago I’m also a hole. So I guess that makes me a holey mole crab. But I’m quoting here so please correct me if I’ve misspoken.”
“No… well, don’t think you have. Mean…didn’t mean…”
“Good. I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
Then the emerita will disappear and the little hole will reappear.
“Hey! Where’d you go?” Will get very close to the sand to peer into the little hole.
“Relax for a moment.” The emerita’s voice will come from behind and to the left of. Will flip attention toward her voice and there in the sand behind will be another little hole.
“There you are!”
“Just sit still ok?” Again her voice will be behind and to the left of. Again will spin to face it, and again there will be another little hole.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m just getting to know.” This time her voice sounded like it came from everywhere at once. “Do me a favor: sing me the lowest note are able to sing and hold it for as long as can.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanna learn about.”
“You’re not gonna make fun of are you?”
“No no no. Will be making all the fun and I won’t make into anything are not already. Now let’s have it.”
Skeptically, will concentrate on voice and sing: “O0o0O0o0O0o0O.” It will be a modest and unimpressive attempt.
“Mmm…not bad. But I believe can do better.” Now will realize that the emerita’s voice is coming from inside. “Listen…” She’ll say, and she’ll sing her best low note: “0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O
0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O… Resonate beautifully!”
“Hey!!” will say. “That tickles!! How’d you get in there?!”
“I burrowed. Do mind?”
“Well am not sure if do or not but you could have asked permission.”
“Are right. How rude of me. I’ve been familiar with the sand-holes for so long that my manners have atrophied. I do apologize. May I inhabit for a short while longer?”
“Well guess so. As long as you leave when say so.”
“Of course, of course. Just give the word and I’ll remove myself promptly. Now, let’s hear give it another try. Have a remarkable hollow and I have a hunch are not fully aware of talent. Sing with whole self.”
“Ok will try. But am not sure you know what you’re talking about. Have never been much of a singer.”
Will gather all strength and take in a large gust of lakeside air:
“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
1000 little holes will open in the sand and the expansive sonic front will tremble across the water and rustle the leaves on the opposite shore.
“Whoooeeee!!! That’s what I’m talking about!! That was fantastic! I haven’t had a bath like that in years!”
Too will be surprised by the sound and will feel proud and impressed by new skill.
“Now,” the emerita will say after collecting herself, “If can do that again but at a slightly lower frequency will really be doing something special. Give it one more try with the same gusto but really expand interior and keep it as low as can.”
“Achem,” will clear throat smiling, “Will try best.”
Again will gather all strength and take in an even larger gust of lakeside air. Just then a fresh water biologist will emerge from the lake and remove her diving mask.
“OOOOOOOOOO O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O…
“OH MY GOD!! WHAT THE DEVIL!! OH MY GOD!! WHAT THE DEVIL!! OH MY GOD!! I CAN’T SEE!!
…O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O…
I MEAN I CAN SEE!! WHAT AM I SEEING!? WHAT IS I SEEING?! WHAT IS SEEING?! THIS IS SEEING!!
…O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O…
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I’VE EVER SEEN!! OH THE VOIDS!! OH THE BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS!!
…O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O …
IT’S ALL SO UNCERTAIN!! IT’S ALL SO PERFECTLY INCOMPLETE!! OH JOY!! I’M ALIVE!! I’M ALIVE!!”
…O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O OOOOOOOOOOOO!”
The impressive note will wane eventually leaving behind the biologist’s jubilant cries, “I’M ALIVE!, I’M ALIVE!,” which will fade away as she gallops up the beach in her flippers.
“What was that?” Will ask.
Awed, the emerita will respond very seriously:
“That was the resonance frequency of the human eye.”