Dumb no more

CEBU, Philippines - Once upon a time in Oceanville lived a dumb male seahorse. His name was George. He mostly just hanged out with friends and did crazy things. The older seahorses wondered what would happen if George found his special someone; they doubted if he would be able to handle the responsibilities of being a mister mom.

It was already late one evening when George woke up. He had not slept the previous night. No reason for it whatsoever; he just liked staying awake at night. And it happened all the time. Drinking and fighting was a daily habit with him.

George was like that; he’d do whatever he liked. He also fought a lot with other seahorses.

“Hey George! Get up!” his friends said.

“Yeah, what’s up?” George replied, still rubbing his eyes from sleep. Then he got up excitedly. They were going to hang out again.

Then he went out with his friends. They wanted to find mates. And, after going around for a while, they came to a place where many single female seahorses gathered. George insisted to have the first pick, as he always did.

George went around checking the beautiful females. Now and then he’d stop at one and said, “Hi, Miss… My name is George.” But the girls didn’t seem to be interested in him; no one picked up on his self-introduction.

He went around some more trying to find a girl he liked. Sensing that he already went to some distance from his friends, George decided to turn around. He felt sad because none of the girls wanted to talk with him.

As he had almost given up, someone caught his attention. She was the prettiest of them all. And she was smiling at him. “Just call me Caleigh,” she said when George asked her name. The adornments in her hair glittered when she moved. The look in her eyes was sweet.

George was mesmerized. He couldn’t get his eyes off her. Caleigh was just so beautiful! He wanted to be a good person – good enough for her.

“I want to be with you forever,” the words flowed out of his lips. “What must I do to make you agree to marry me?” Caleigh smiled, and George loved her all the more.

They got married sometime after. George had become a better, well-behaved and industrious seahorse, always working to prepare for the coming of hundreds of their baby seahorses. He spared no time working, knowing that once he got pregnant he had to slow down.

Everyone was amazed at George’s transformation.  “That’s what love can do,” a friend told another. They were sure that George would make a good parent to his children. Because of love – he was dumb no more.

Colleen C. Murillo 11 years old Grade V Mayor A.S. Fortuna Memorial Elementary School