Page 9 of Along Came Summer

“Here it comes.” One of the other rescuers shouts.

“Niran, pull her tail. Let's keep her on her side. Don’t let the tide push her over and watch out for her fins.” I instruct, drawing in a deep breath as the tide crashes over us. Using the tide, we all push as one and this time we get her facing in the right direction. “Yes, that's it, that's it, push, push, push!”

The next set of big waves should lift her enough to get water under her belly to swim. It feels like we’re in a bleak game of ‘tug of war’ with the ocean. “Whoa, Levi, watch the fin, watch the fin!” Niran shouts as the whale's pectoral fin lifts and swings back as we go to roll her over and smacks me in the shoulder. The force of it, along with the wave knocks me back and I feel an ache shoot up my arm.

“Fuck!”

“Levi, you okay brother?!”

Nodding, I push myself upright and roll my shoulder to assess the damage. It’s not broken, fractured, or dislocated. It’s likely an impact injury. Nothing an ice pack and some painkillers won’t fix.

I’m good.

“Yeah, yeah, I'm alright,” I assure him as I shift back to place my hands on her side to help push her.

The next couple of waves help us push her deeper into the water, and the whale starts to move her tail and for the first time in four hours attempts to swim. “Untie her tail!”

We all cheer, overcome with emotion as she starts to push herself as though she’s been reserving all her energy for this moment to swim on her own. “Yes! Fuck yes, that's it, sweetheart, go!” I swim forward, observing her as she swims away, plumes of mist spraying out of her head when she resurfaces again.

“Wow,” I exhale, watching her fin disappear out of sight.

“That was insane, bro,” Niran exclaims, throwing his arm around my shoulder when I walk out of the ocean. I wince when my sore shoulder throbs unpleasantly under his weight, but I shake it off because no pain will ever overcome the thrill and gratification I'm feeling.

And this feeling is why I do what I do.

I’m the founder of K.A.S—Kings Animal Squadron. A non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting animals, through advocacy, from neglect, abuse and exploitation.

Yes, I’m still an artist, and my art will always be my priority, but this is my passion project. While it has been challenging, after five gruelling years of rejections, I unexpectedly got discovered at a point where I was ready to give up. And now, I have my pieces exhibited in galleries worldwide.

When I’m not busy painting, I travel the world rescuing animals, which has always been another passion of mine. I’ve always loved animals and unexpectedly found my calling when I stumbled upon the most adorable Labrador retriever abandoned in a waste bin when I was living in Singapore.

I heard his cries for help when I was walking by. The poor pup was in a bad way, stuck in a waste bin. Trembling uncontrollably. Malnourished. It was clear he hadn’t eaten in almost a week. He was starving and severely dehydrated, so I picked him up and snuck him into my hotel room. I fed him, gave him water, and cleaned him up. Eventually, he stopped shaking and relaxed enough to fall asleep in my lap.

The vet said I found him just in time because he wouldn't have lasted another day in those conditions.

I was supposed to find him a home, but I couldn't help but fall in love with the helpless little ball of fur, so I kept him. We travel together, and we do yoga together.

I struggled to find a name for him for a couple of days. And then one night, there was a thunderstorm, and he ran off and hid under my bed, his large doe eyes peeking up at me, all frightened.

So, I named him Storm.

I may have deviated slightly from my path, but I have absolutely no regrets. I’ve travelled around the world to rescue defenceless animals in need of help. Whether it be an abandoned puppy, or a sea turtle that has been tangled in fishing nets or even a great white shark that had a hook stuck in its mouth—yeah, nothing quite like getting up close and personal with a great white’s mouth to get your heart going.

Sure it’s a risky job, but I could drop dead or get hit by a car, and my life would have ended for nothing. At least now, I have a purpose, and if I die, it would be doing something I’m passionate about.

“Another day, another great save for K.A.S,” Niran says, wringing the water out of his shirt. I nod and run a hand over my wet hair, pushing the wet strands out of my face. “I think we deserved a nice stiff drink after that one.” Niran states, grinning and slapping my back gleefully.

“Adrink?” I chortle, “For almost getting my shoulder blown out of its socket? I think I need three rounds just to take the edge off.”

“Yes, now you’re talking, brother. And I know just the place. They have a neon paint party tonight in Patong and we are going.”

Rolling my sore shoulder, I fix Niran with a quizzical look. “A paintrave?” I ask, and he nods all too enthusiastically back at me. His deep brown—almost black—eyes, glitter joyously. “Come on, man. I was thinking something more mellow, like a couple of rounds with my old pals Jack, Johnnie and Jim in a quiet bar.”

Niran rolls his eyes, following me when I turn and start walking along the beach toward the car. “Oh, come on Levi, this is right up your street, bro. You're a fucking artist. You’ve been complaining that you’re blocked. There, you'll be surrounded by inspiration. It’s a Friday night! Not to mention, this istheparty of the year. You can't miss it. We are going, you can't say no, I won’t let you.” I keep walking and shake my head, not convinced, and he jogs after me, almost tumbling over into the sand a couple of times. “The place will be packed with talent. An array of hot and horny girls for you to pick from. We both know it’s been a hot second since you got your dick wet. I know because you become a grumpy asshole when you’re blue balling.”

I hate to admit it, but the kid isn't wrong. I’m too busy for a relationship and I’m too tired for random hook-ups.

It has been a good three months since I’ve gotten any form of action. I’ve been neglecting my poor nads as of late because of my crazy workload and truthfully no girls have caught my attention.

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