A 52-Hertz Whale Read online

  Quote on back of jacket: “52-hertz whale,” Wikipedia, February 12, 2015,

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/52-hertz_whale (February 12, 2015).

  Copyright © 2015 by Bill Sommer and Natalie Haney Tilghman

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Tilghman, Natalie Haney.

  A 52-hertz whale / Natalie Haney Tilghman and Bill Sommer.

  pages cm

  Summary: Reveals, through emails from various people, the growing connection between sixteen-year-old James, who is obsessed with the fate of a juvenile humpback whale he adopted, and Darren, a would-be filmmaker who once did community service in James’s Special Education classroom.

  ISBN 978-1-4677-7917-3 (lb : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-4677-8811-3

  (eb pdf)

  [1. Interpersonal relations—Fiction. 2. Humpback whale—Fiction. 3. Whales—Fiction. 4. People with mental disabilities—Fiction. 5. Email—Fiction.] I. Sommer, Bill. II. Title. III. Title: Fifty-two hertz whale.

  PZ7.1.T55Aag 2015

  [Fic]—dc23

  2015001618

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  1 – BP – 7/15/15

  eISBN: 978-1-46778-811-3 (pdf)

  eISBN: 978-1-46778-968-4 (ePub)

  eISBN: 978-1-46778-967-7 (mobi)

  For my boys, especially RHT IV,

  and for Mom

  —NHT

  For Mom and Dad

  —Bill Jr.

  SEPTEMBER 2012

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Date: September 6, 2012 at 11:27 PM

  Subject: Help

  Hi Darren:

  You probably don’t remember me.

  We met like a year ago in the Resource Room at Glenside Middle School. You helped us film a completely ridiculous advertisement for a new soft drink. This was some sort of “exercise” to help our Social Skills group learn to work together, I guess. The result: Gabber Aid, “the beverage that speaks volumes.” I have to say that the only thing more embarrassing than being in the Social Skills group is to have it documented on film. Still, your camera work was impeccable.

  By any chance, do you remember Sam Pick from the Resource Room? The kid who would wear a different shirt with a high-resolution picture of a spider on it each day of the week? Sam doesn’t have to go to the Resource Room anymore now that we’re at Carlsburg High. Last year, Sam and I would watch Jacques Cousteau DVDs after school. I taught him stuff like a humpback whale’s heart can weigh three times as much as a human being’s or that flukes are like fingerprints—no two are the same. These days, though, Sam is busy playing backup goalie on the soccer team with people like Charlie Coxson. This Coxson character is a junior, the soccer captain, and his PSAT scores are so good that he’s in Mensa. So it’s easy to see why Sam thinks he’s cool. That leaves me alone, listening to humpback songs on CD after school or tracking my adopted whale, Salt, on the Greater New England Whale Conservatory’s website as he makes his annual migration to Argentina.

  Which is why I’m emailing you. On your last day with our Social Skills group, you said if I ever needed help, I could contact you via this email. Well, I need help.

  About a week ago, Salt’s tracking dot was stalled in the Gulf of Maine. I was pretty certain that Salt was lost or separated from his pod. So I tried calling the scientists at the Greater New England Whale Conservatory (GNEWC) to alert them, but whoever answered—maybe it was the janitor—blamed the inactivity on a technical glitch. He also mentioned that juveniles don’t migrate every year. (As if I didn’t know that? I mean, really.)

  Anyway, it was clear to me that this guy at the Greater New England Whale Conservatory didn’t know a marine mammal emergency when he saw one. We’re talking about a member of an endangered species here—all alone and lost in 41,500,000 square miles of ocean. Anyway, when Salt’s tracking dot started moving again a couple of days later, it was headed in the wrong direction—toward New England’s rocky coast instead of south toward the Carolinas. At this point, I think that Salt’s echolocation is seriously impaired, which might cause him to beach.

  What should I do?

  Sincerely,

  James Turner

  P.S. How are you? What are you doing these days?

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Date: September 7, 2012 at 11:58 PM

  Subject: RE: Help

  James!

  Good to hear from you, dog. Bummer about your giant mammalian buddy. Unfortunately, I’m no whale expert and don’t know what to tell you about getting your boy turned in the right direction. Heck, I might be even more lost than him these days. Might have to go to the doc and get my echolocation checked out.

  Sorry. I hope things are good otherwise.

  Take it breezy,

  Darren

  P.S. Thanks for noticing my camera work.

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Date: September 8, 2012 at 7:27 AM

  Subject: RE: Help

  Dear Darren,

  I have to apologize if you just gave me your email just to be polite. Kind of like when people ask, “How are you?” but don’t want to know the answer. One time, when I was little, this grocery clerk asked me how I was doing, and I said that I peed my pants at school and the nurse had to give me a pair of jeans that were two sizes too big and I was thinking of running away, maybe jumping a plane from Philly to Patagonia to watch the annual whale migration. “But he’s fine,” my mom said. The clerk smiled and I realized that Mom had given the right answer.

  Anyway, I wrote you because I thought I remembered you mentioning something about an article that you read online featuring a historically significant blue whale poop—the largest on record—and how it was pretty cool that floating feces can end up fertilizing the entire ocean, keeping the ecosystem in good working order. You seemed to get the fact that humans need whales. And I figured you’d understand how Salt’s untimely disappearance directly affects us all.

  Sincerely,

  James Turner

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Date: September 9, 2012 at 1:15 AM

  Subject: FWD: Help

  Check it, dog. Here’s the email I was telling you about. It’s from this kid at the school where I paid my debt to society last year. Poor li’l dude must be lonely as hell!

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Date: September 9, 2012 at 11:42 AM

  Subject: Checking in

  Hey D,

  Just checking in to see how you’re holding up. Talked to Mom the other da
y, and from what it sounded like, the worst of it’s behind you. Just remember that time is your friend here.

  Nothing much to report. John’s company didn’t give him any paternity leave, so once Mom left, I was on my own for a few weeks and I was starting to go slightly insane, I think, so he just took a week off and stayed around the house and helped out. It was SO nice to have an adult conversation before 6 p.m. every day. Bad news is, Good-bye vacation. Probably won’t get to see you at Christmas unless you want to come out here. Winters in Milwaukee get a much worse rap than they deserve. (Ha! No they don’t. They get exactly the rap they deserve. Can’t lie to my li’l bro.)

  Gracie’s down for her nap and Robby’s just lying here staring up at me as I type this. I’ve got some awfully cute photos of my two little munchkins that I’ll send you for a little added cheering up. Mom told me you’re off Facebook for the time being—smart move, I wouldn’t be able to resist looking at her pictures either—so I’ll put a bunch of pics of the twins in an email when I get a chance.

  Love you,

  Katie

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Date: September 9, 2012 at 4:15 PM

  Subject: RE: FW: Help

  Lonelier than the dude who emailed the dude he sleeps down the hall from at one in the morning? Hey-o! What a burn. Take Darren to the Burn Unit!

  Also, another reminder: doing your dishes is not a once-a-week chore. It’s an every-time-you-use-dishes chore. Comprendé?

  Luke

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Date: September 10, 2012 at 2:45 PM

  Subject: RE: Help

  Hey there James,

  I don’t know if I was just being polite when I gave you my email address, as I have no recollection of doing so. Due to some recent revelations in self-knowledge, though, I’m guessing what really happened was that I felt some brief but powerful surge of emotion toward you and gave you my email address. In the intervening months, all of my emotional enthusiasm has gotten sucked into a black hole, to the point that I forgot the entire incident.

  Anyway, as far as the giant whale poop, I think you’ve got me confused with someone else. I actually have to work hard to block out thoughts of marine feces every time I go in the ocean, otherwise I can’t enjoy my swim. So I definitely wasn’t doing a happy dance over a colossal whale turd.

  But I do remember helping out in that Social Skills class and filming you in the Gabber Aid commercial. I remember you really nailing the part where you’re standing there looking back and forth as two kids have a conversation and you’re totally left out in the cold until you chug that Gabber Aid and make a brilliant conversational entrance like, “Hey guys, what’s up?” Easier said than done, I know. Wait—actually, the saying is the doing in that case. Which is the hard part for folks in your situation, right? Anyway, not easily said. I have trouble empathizing on that particular difficulty, as I’m rarely at a loss for words. Honestly, my life would probably be a lot better off if I lost a few words every now and then.

  And of course I remember Sam. I applaud him for broadening his horizons with soccer, though it’s a bummer you guys aren’t as close anymore. You know what they say (actually you probably don’t, since you’re fourteen, so I’m going to tell you): The only constant in life is change. He moved on. You might have to as well. Same thing happened to me a while back.

  As for how I’m doing: When I met you, I was back in Philly on a little, um, hiatus from college, but after the year ended I headed back to Los Angeles and finally graduated with a Bachelor’s in film and television production from USC. Unsure of what to do next, I threw together a ragtag crew of misfits and we said, “Screw the establishment, we’re going to make a movie on our own terms.” So we did, the critics loved it, and now we’ve been asked to take over the entire Marvel comics film franchise. We’re considering it.

  Spoiler alert: None of that happened.

  Except for me getting my degree. Now I’m a PA (showbiz abbrev. of production assistant) on an absolutely wretched family sitcom here in the City of Angels, but I spend most of my time daydreaming topics for the great documentary I will someday make. Ironically, this gig makes the days of filming commercials for imaginary social-skill–enhancing drinks seem like the golden age of my filmmaking life. Contrary to popular belief, starting out in Hollywood isn’t just about bringing coffee to important people. That’s just the most interesting part.

  So, about this whale. First, are you sure it was the janitor who answered the phone? That’s not very common. If so, kudos to him for being what sounds to me like a pretty knowledgeable janitor, even if he proves incorrect about the fate of your whale friend. Unfortunately, I have no idea what your next step should be in this matter, other than calling and asking to speak to someone besides the suspiciously well-informed janitor. As far as the dot moving in the wrong direction, for now I’d have faith in Salt to find his right path. Sometimes the young have to wander lost for a while before eventually getting it all figured out (at least this is what I’m telling my mom right now to get her off my back about law school, but that’s a different story). Also, don’t pooh-pooh the idea of just kicking it solo for a while. Take it from Mr. Darren, the guy who has endured a maddening number of creepy moments with people he met from answering Craigslist roommate-needed ads. But in all seriousness, give it a few days, call back, and see what they say.

  Best,

  Darren

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Date: September 11, 2012 at 4:13 PM

  Subject: RE: Help

  Dear Darren,

  I wanted to tell you that I called the Greater New England Whale Conservatory back like you suggested. The receptionist (who sounded suspiciously like the janitor I spoke with previously) put me through to the Development Department, then some woman asked me if I wanted to renew my adoption of Salt. Get this: the annual fee is $10 higher than the year before. I told the woman that I refused to open my wallet again until I got more information on Salt’s current whereabouts and health from a marine researcher or scientist. Funny how then I got promptly transferred.

  The scientist I spoke with confirmed my hunch that Salt is indeed separated from his pod. According to said scientist, there is some reason to be concerned. In the past two months, at least one other juvenile beached in the same area where Salt is currently swimming. The scientist said he is puzzled as to what is pulling the whales toward the dangerous shallows and the shore. I left the scientist my email and the scientist promised to update me. We shall see.

  Sincerely yours,

  James Turner

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Date: September 12, 2012 at 4:15 PM

  Subject: Cease and Desist?

  Dear Darren,

  I hate to bother you again, especially because I think I may have misremembered your interest in whale poop. The thing is that, right now, I don’t really have anyone else to bother. Still, bothering is bothering, so I will cease and desist if you just say the word.

  Before I do so, you advised me to “move on” from my friendship with Sam. Since you seem to have experience in this arena, how exactly does one go about “moving on”?

  Sincerely,

  James Turner

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Date: September 12, 2012 at 4:38 PM

  Subject: Stanley Duckett from GNEWC

  Peter,

  This is the first time in 10 years I’m using this email address they gave me. Took me 5 minutes just to type the subject. Sorry to bother you, especially with your father just passed and all. But Jan’s been out with the flu and I’m covering the front desk in addition to all my normal stuff like fixing the AC in Howard’s suite for the 50th time. Damn Indian summer. I guess the o
ffice wants to send you some flowers, trouble is I can’t find your address in Jan’s mess. Could you send? Also a box came in the mail for you. Should I just put it on your desk? Gotta go lock up.

  —Stanley P. Duckett

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected]

  Date: September 12, 2012 at 4:56 PM

  Subject: RE: Stanley Duckett from GNEWC

  Dear Stanley,

  Thanks for the condolences. My address is 712 Overlook Lane, Woods Hole, MA 02543. I’m out on leave, and of course, one of our echo sounders is malfunctioning right when we need to track a wayward juvenile in distress in the same area where we’ve had previous issues with beaching the past few weeks. Thanks to our real-time tracking feature, I’m getting calls from concerned donors like this one teenage kid who acts like Salt is his best friend. That box might contain the part we’ve been waiting for. Can you open it and let me know?

  Best wishes,

  Peter

  Peter Brammer, PhD

  Marine Researcher

  Greater New England Whale Conservancy

  From: [email protected]

  To: [email protected], (56 others)

  Date: September 12, 2012 at 5:35 PM

  Subject: Introduction

  Dear Parents,

  Please pardon my lateness in sending this letter. I apologize for waiting until two games into the season to formally introduce myself to you all. My name is Jack Olmstead, and I’m the new head football coach here at Henson Academy, I’m proud to say.

  1-1 wasn’t the start I had in mind, but Grover Cleveland was a tough squad, and some of our growing pains as a team made themselves extra painful during that game. I accept full responsibility for the loss. With the nonconference games behind us, we are ready to embark into conference play. Notice I say “we.” Because you guys are just as much a part of this team as me and the players are, even though you don’t watch endless hours of game film and chart out X’s and O’s like me, and you don’t put on pads and a helmet and put in a mouth guard and lace up your cleats like your kids. As parents, you guys are like my coaches off the field. Your actions and words shape the 35 young men (and 1 young lady) who step onto that field every Friday night for the next 10 weeks. (Notice that 10 more weeks of play assumes we reach the Florida Class A2 state championship game. Our goal is nothing less. We here at Henson Academy aim for greatness.)