The Marine Biosphere.
Part 1. How it all began, a live mouse with no head or tail.
After the Second world war we, as a family were able to catch a short holiday. and we children were promised a trip to see the ocean. Once we had arrived I stood on the beach in awe. So huge was this expanse of endless water, stretching to the horizon.
Some hours later I was faced with the concept of the tides. The ‘Ocean’ had gone, all that was left was deep, smelly, black mud, for my introduction to the sea. For I was standing before the Thames estuary Essex UK. First, I was dismayed then I noticed pools of seawater had formed at the base of the piers’ pylons.
Some hours later I was faced with the concept of the tides. The ‘Ocean’ had gone, all that was left was deep, smelly, black mud, for my introduction to the sea. For I was standing before the Thames estuary Essex UK. First, I was dismayed then I noticed pools of seawater had formed at the base of the piers’ pylons.
Family day besides the sea. Narrated by the fairy Godmother.
“The whole family was looking forward to the trip to Southend. The long train ride was a joy and a novelty as they always walked to save money. Our young boy was more interested in the sea and its creatures, than the amusements.
Southend’s front and the promenade is a main attraction to Londoners, out for a day trip. With its fish and chips in newspaper with a dash of vinegar, salt, and a gherkin, plus the jellied eels, a great day can be had for all.
Our boy’s family members was keen on the amusements, bumper cars, pinball machines, and candyfloss. The pier is considered the longest in the world at one and quarter miles long. There was a little train that ran its whole length. Mum made them all walk the length of the pier and back, it was a good exercise and a way of saving money.
An Ocean of Mud.
The tide was going out when they arrived back at the seafront so they sat on a seat trying to eat candy floss.
“Mum can I go to the beach,” cried John.
“Only if you take off your shoes and socks”, she replied.
Shoes and socks were left on the seat and in a flash, he was on the beach. It consisted of a narrow belt of stones with a few dead bits of seaweed and empty cockle shells. So, he turned his attention to the mud under the pier.
Now, this was exciting, it was squashier and warm, oozing between his toes. There was life in the mud. Jets of water were expelled as he walked. Then there were tracks of animals moving through the mud. On following one track, it came to an end.
Something was moving there under the mud. So quickly he sank his hands into the mud and grabbed, he had caught a furry mouse, with no head or tail, but it was alive.
Putting his muddy mouse in a pocket he turned his attention to the pools of water that formed around the metal pillars that support the pier. These were miniature ponds of clear water, and he could see sea anemones of bright red and purple, and they had many blue eyes. He tried to catch one, but it was stuck to the pillar and his fingers were held by the animals’ tentacles. He pulled his hand away quickly. In doing so he disturbed a fish and a few shrimps. This pond was full of life. He had to kneel in the mud so that he could see better. There were lots of barnacles that we were alive to, they had tiny hands that were constantly grabbing at the water.
Running back to mum, he was dying to tell her all about his findings. But he got an earful.
In Trouble again.
“Just look at you” she cried, “how could you, you are a bad, thoughtless, nasty boy and there are times when I hate what you get up to”.
“Oh, dear God, what have I said to him said Mum, looking down at her son, tears running down his cheeks and deep grief written in his face, his mother’s love shattered.
Yet she could not take back hasty words, wrong though they may be. For he was covered in black sticky mud, his shorts, knees, legs, and his feet were plastered in mud, leaving a comic trail of footprints along the pavement to the seat.
A Hosing-down.
She took him to a nearby tap which also had a hose attached. Then made him take off his shorts, right there on the promenade, and hosed him down. “That will teach him not to humiliate me in the future”, she thought. Then again, she felt wrong that she had lashed out at her son, but she hosed him down and his clothes with angry glee. It was then she found the live mouse with no head or tail, in the pocket of his shorts.
“Uck what is that?” she screamed, much to the amusement of passersby’s.
Enlightment.
Later, mum took them all to a café for a cup of tea. Our boy in his soaking wet pants and still smelling of bad eggs. He looked as if his world had come to an end. Then she had a brainwave, so she took them all to the Aquarium. On finding an attendant, she asked John to show the man his ‘Mouse’. Taking it out of his pocket he laid it gently on a counter. The man was very interested and told them this is a very unusual animal. “We believe that it is a missing link between a worm and a snail” he said. “It’s called a Sea mouse, but is a worm, a Scale Worm”.
The mouse was then washed and placed into a small aquarium. Talk about the ugly duckling, this muddy mouse was a truly beautiful creature. The hairs on its body were an iridescent red that would change colour to blue, orange, or green, depending on the angle you were looking. They were also told that it is seldom seen as it lives its entire life under the mud. Our boy was asked if the Aquarium would keep the ‘mouse’ for the general public to see. Our boy nodded in agreement but looked up to his mum with love and said, “I would like an aquarium like that”, pointing to the small tank which held his mouse.”
