The Magic Minute

 By Harriet May Savitz

                                       First Happening

            It is a story told over and over again, about the day the Grand Sea Turtle rose from the ocean and climbed on to the beach.  To change the history of the world.

            “Ah,” he said as he lifted himself from the sea that day.  “It is a beautiful night for such an important Summit Meeting.  It is the perfect night for important decisions and Deep Thinking.”

            “If you think so, I think so,” said the Jellyfish who was inclined to follow rather than lead.  He kept close to the Sea Turtle as if he were frightened of the night.

            The Sea Turtle was accustomed to others following him with the belief he knew where he was going.  They would listen when he spoke.  Perhaps it was because Sea Turtles had been carrying their homes on their backs for 175,000,000 years, and when you do something for that long, others get the idea you know something they do not.

            Maybe, the Sea Turtle concluded, his reputation for wise counseling was growing because all messages from HIGHER UP were delivered by Sea Turtles, and no one else.  The Grand Sea Turtle had thought of asking HIGHER UP why they had been chosen from all the others.  But then one never questioned HIGHER UP about anything.  One just received messages and delivered them as quickly as possible.

            This last message seemed more urgent than any of the others.  HIGHER UP had asked for a meeting to be held upstairs, outside the water, on the beach, where the Tenants lived.  The Tenants were misbehaving.  Everyone in the water knew that.  It was not hidden information.  But now HIGHER UP wanted something to be done about it.

            “If you will pardon me, I might suggest this meeting was called too late,” offered the Octopus who rose from the water and took his place next to the Jelly fish.  “These tenants have been giving us trouble for years, for as long as they have lived upstairs, outside of the water.”

            Other Octopi and Jellyfish arrived ashore, as the Octopus, continuing his talk with the Grand Sea Turtle, walked beside him on the tips of his eight arms or tentacles as he preferred them to be called.  Though he was often referred to as the Devilfish, with his large shiny eyes and strong hard jaws, the Octopus had a timid nature, except of course, when he was occupied in fierce fighting.  “I never got along with the Tenants,” he confided.  “But of course I am terribly misunderstood.  I try to get along with everyone, even the Tenants, but sometimes we just get tangled up with one another.  Know what I mean?”

            “HIGHER UP thinks it is the right time,” said the Grand Sea Turtle.

            The Jellyfish moved slowly away, though he was not really worried about his safety around the Octopus.  Though he might look like a pushover for any bully entering his space, just a slab of jelly lying on the beach, the jellyfish had confidence in his umbrella-shaped body.  Where the umbrella handle might be, there was a fringe of feelers filled with poison darts that could easily paralyze an enemy.  However, there would be no need for retaliation tonight, for there would be no attack.  The Grand Sea Turtle had promised there was no need to think of poison darts because there would be no enemies at this special meeting on the beach.  They had been given a Magic Minute, something that did not come along in thousands of years and could only be given by HIGHER UP.  A Magic Minute was a great gift and according to the stories the Jellyfish had overheard, it had to be used immediately or it would go wasted.  And perhaps never return again.  In it, all things were possible and nothing impossible.

            The Grand Sea Turtle was not worried about wasting the Magic Minute.  HIGHER UP had given him instructions.  All he had to do was follow them. 

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