Page 23 of That Birthday in Barbados
“Yeah, I can’t imagine we’re impressing him. In 1987, the University of the West Indies started the Barbados Sea Turtle Project to restore the populations. Hunting turtles or their eggs is illegal and comes with huge fines and jail time. The efforts are working, but it’s a shame that man can be so thoughtless and selfish.”
A knot has formed in my chest. “She’s so free and perfect. I can’t stand the thought of someone hurting her.”
“Me either.” We’re quiet for a few moments, and then he says, “Did you know they can migrate incredible distances? So I read this study where they put satellite transmitters on four Hawksbill turtles in Barbados during the nesting season to figure out where they migrated to. All four left Barbados after their nesting and went as far asDominica, Grenada, Trinidad, and Venezuela.”
“How many miles is that?” I ask, shocked.
“Two seventy at the farthest.”
“That is truly incredible. Why do they go so far?”
“Foraging for the things they like to eat. The sad part is much of the territory they end up being in doesn’t protect them as they are protected here.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Yes. I wish I could tell this girl not to ever leave these waters.”
“Please don’t,” I say, looking at her sweet face again, unable to imagine someone taking her life.
“They are amazing creatures. They imprint the place where they’re born and come back twenty to thirty years later to lay their own eggs.”
“That long? That’s smarter than anything I’ve ever done.”
Anders laughs. “Me, too. Since I’ve thoroughly unveiled myself as a sea-turtle geek, I’ll leave you with one more fact. They are very careful where they place their eggs. Sea-water kills the developing embryos. And the temperature of the sand determines the sex of the embryos. If the eggs are closer to the tide line where the sand is cooler, the eggs will produce a male. If it’s in the warmer sand, the eggs produce females.”
“Wow. I’m going to buy a book on sea turtles. I want to know everything about them.”
He smiles and nods once. “I was bitten by the same bug. They really are fascinating.”
“Thank you,” I say, looking at him and realizing I’ve underestimated him. He’s way more than a pretty face. “This is the best birthday present I’ve ever gotten.”
He snags my gaze, and we float alongside the turtle, something real and substantial hanging there between us. What on earth?
“We’re out of treats,” he says softly, and as if she knows exactly what he’s said, the turtle turns and swims peacefully off in the opposite direction.
“Come on,” Anders says, taking my hand and pulling me back to the Sea-Doo.
Once we’re there, he climbs on the back and tells me to place my feet on the rubber edge. He takes my hands and catapults me up. The Sea-Doo tips crazily side to side, and I’m forced to grab his waist to hold on. It settles eventually, and I pull back, staring up at him.
“Wanna drive?” he asks with a risk-taker smile.
“Me? I’ve never driven one.”
“You gonna wait until you’re fifty?”
I give him another playful slap, realizing I’m acting like I’m in highschool with all the slapping, giggling and staring. Good grief. “No. As a matter of fact, I’m not. I think I’ll learn today.”
“Outstanding.” He unhooks the cord with the key from his life jacket and hands it to me. “Snap it through one of the loops on your vest. If you fall off, you want the key to stay with you.”
“Fall off? Oh ye of little faith.”
“I see how it is,” he says, smiling.
It takes a little maneuvering for us to switch spots. He holds onto the seat, giving me the chance to scoot forward. Then, he spins back around and climbs onto the seat behind me.
“What was that game I played as a kid? You put your hands and feet-”
“Twister,” he says, laughing.
