The city, as I’d already mentioned is divided down its heart by a large river. The river’s name to the best of my knowledge I am unaware of and have never heard. Granted, these are my dreams so I guess my subconscious was simply never interested enough to connect the correct dots that would create a name for this mighty-looking chasm of deep and wide water, steam rising off of its surface on this bright early-summer day… Well, that would be nice except for me wearing a rain coat and it currently pouring cats and dogs at the moment. Just because it’s my dream doesn’t mean I can control the weather apparently.
I start out walking across the bridge, it’s a wide four-lane ordeal with a separate pedestrian area on one side of the roadway. On one end of the bridge is a large toll plaza, but, only for cars so I simply walk by. Mid day on a week day doesn’t create a lot of traffic over this bridge, only the odd passing vehicle causes my ears to pin back against my head under my hoodie as it passes — even though dolphin is part of my hybridization I still don’t like rain.
The bridge is a rather awesome sight, stretching between the two shores at almost the widest point of the river so by looking over the side you can see some of the docked boats below where the fresh water and salty ocean water meet. Now with the tide full the river seems even higher and my tail begins to wag from under by hoodie, slatting water from the fin at its tip behind me. It’s illegal to dive off this bridge, you should know. I’m not even sure how I know, honestly, but I’m well aware that what I’m about to do is wrong as I take off my hoodie and toss it off the bridge. Only a tight-fitting pair of spandex swim shorts covering my furred body. The rain keeping my fur clumped together against my chest as I smile.
I’m not only aware that it’s wrong to jump off this bridge, I’m also aware that before they can find another driver to look for me I’ll be long gone, and no one will invest much time in looking for another dolphin hybrid with a thing for taking long dives.
I peer down over the edge and my stomach tenses up, it seems a lot higher than I imagined as I climb over the rail and look at the mixing salt and fresh water below. A car hits its breaks behind me –no time to second-guess now– I push-off and form a diving position. My tail flapping though the air like the tail from a kite as my forepaws break the surface of the water and the sudden cold makes the fur of my coat stand on end. My heart besting loudly in my ears with exhilaration as I open my eyelids and the membranes over my eyes stay closed under the choppy surface.
The water here is cloudy, so there isn’t much to see, but with held breath I use my sense of direction to swim further up-river and to a dock I know of well. My head breaks the surface of the water and I quickly swim with my footpads and the power of my thick tail-fin to grab my hoodie and dive once more, enjoying the water and the thrill of the drive — my candid instinct to wag in happiness only occasionally messing up my stride.