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13
Come on Daisy
Daisy was aware that something different was happening on the morning Dilo was stranded on the beach. The doors of the aquarium were opened early. There was lots of’ human activity. She heard Dilo being lowered into the other holding pool. When Daisy heard Dilo’s sonar it stirred something inside her. Dilo’s sound immediately brought back memories of her former friend, Boomps, and the dolphins she swam with in the sea when she was young.
Daisy swam to the grill and sent her own sonar across the pool towards Dilo. The two dolphins excitedly exchanged signals. Dilo and Daisy pressed their beaks against the iron bars. They wanted to get closer, to swim together and to see one another. But they were kept apart, each in their own tiny pool.
Eventually Daisy heard the sound she was waiting for. Music. Daisy kept swimming excitedly round her pool and then pressing her beak against the metal grill. At last the gate was drawn back.
Daisy rushed out and swam across the show pool to the other enclosure. Dilo had his beak pressed hard against the grill. He wriggled his body with delight when Daisy swam into view.
Tina, the trainer, blew her whistle. Daisy could hear It through the water hut she ignored the call for the show to begin. Daisy was much more interested in making contact with Dilo. The whistle blew again and again. Daisy stayed underwater. She circled in front of Dilo who watched her through the bars.
“1’m afraid Daisy is distracted by the dolphin we rescued from the beach this morning,” came the voice of Tina over the loudspeaker.
“Come on Daisy, show the boys and girls how you can jump.”
Daisy ignored the request. She rose to the surface, snatched a breath and descended immediately.
“Come on Daisy,” pleaded the trainer. It’s time for breakfast.”
Tina threw a fish into the water. Daisy saw it drilling downwards but took no notice. Another fish followed.
“If you don’t come and see me 1 shall be very upset.” said the trainer blowing her whistle once again.
Daisy stayed underwater swimming back and forth past Dilo.
“Alright then, I shall leave you,” said the voice over the loudspeaker.
Daisy did her shows because she wanted to please Tina and the visitors who came to the pool. Today she was torn between being close to Dilo and obeying the commands of the whistle and the hand signals. Daisy was very upset when her trainer walked off the platform. She wanted to please her favourite human friend so much.
Tina came back to the platform a short time later. Through the water Daisy saw Tina’s hand signal. Then she heard the whistle.
“Come on Daisy, please show the boys and girls how you can jump” came the voice over the loudspeaker.
Daisy could resist no longer. She swam round the pool and popped up in front of her trainer.
“Good girl” said Tina as she popped a fish into Daisy’s open mouth.
As soon as she had swallowed the fish Daisy swam back to Dilo. When the whistle blew again Daisy did another trick and then swam quickly back and forth infront of Dilo. Daisy did do other parts of her show hut spent most of the time underwater. At the end she towed the boat with a child in it to the middle of the pool and then let go of the rope to return to Dilo. Tina jumped into the pool and pulled the boat back to the platform.
When all the spectators had left the man who had arrived on the beach, just after Beth and Ann had found Dilo, rushed onto the platform. He was angry.
“That was an utter shambles,” he shouted at Tina. “I thought you were supposed to be a trainer,” he raged. “Don’t give that animal any more food until it obeys your commands instantly,” he said pointing at Daisy.
“Oh, and another thing.” he added, pointing at Dilo. “You’d better start training that dolphin right away. I want it in the show as soon as possible.’
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