I was feeling cold outside under the pine trees, when I discovered the hot tub with its centre bubbling like a volcano.  I jumped right in.  The water was so warm!  And there were little icy water jets that made my legs and back tingle.  I sat on the ledge and settled back to watch the clouds go by.  A family of four just like my own were sitting opposite on their ledge, enjoying their time at the water park.  I was so warm in the bubbling water I forgot I had limbs.  I just rested there.

There was a man next to me.  He lay back with his face almost covered by the water.  His large eyes were closed.  He appeared to be asleep.  When the water bubbled around his beak-like nose, he looked happy and inched back up into the air.  I knew how he felt.  The water was so lovely and warm; it made me feel sleepy too.

When I looked again only the man’s hair was visible, so I followed him beneath the water’s surface.  The man sat on a long tail.  His skin was patterned like turtle scales.  His nose was an eagle’s beak.  His feet had grown four toes like claws.  The creature half-opened his eyes, as large as ping pong balls, and made a dreamy smile.  I smiled back too as the water entered my mouth and lungs.  The water was so warm it was lovely.  Above the hub tub, silhouetted against the trees and the sky, was my Mum.  She was looking for me.  I was thinking, I’m just down here, can’t you see me?  She was missing out.  The hot tub was so peaceful and there were beautiful animals in it all the way to the bottom.

© Mark Carew 2018

Photo by Lukas Kubica on Unsplash