On December 25th, 2023 in Cox’s Bazar, my team and I went on a voluntary trip to clean up the beach. There we saw the beach full worthy of trash. My team went on the other side of the beach to set up our tents. Everyone was anxious, we didn’t know where to start from.
On a sudden, in the distance, I saw a crab and a turtle stuck in a net. I felt empathetic for both of them, so I went back to grab some tools. I ran to them and removed the net with my tools cautiously, so that couldn’t get hurt. ‘Phew!’ I said, ‘‘Well, I guess I’ll go back to the crew.’’ When I stood up and heard two voices saying ‘‘wait! Stop right there.’’ I looked back in shock. ‘‘Who said that?’’ as I said in a nervous tone. The two voices said, ‘‘Look down! It’s us.’’ Then I looked to the turtle and crab that I just saved, ‘‘Wait, were you two just talking? Am I hallucinating on am I drea-’’ Before I finished my sentence, the crab cried out ‘‘Calm down! This is all real, we want to thank you for saving us.’’ Then the turtle told, ‘‘you can pinch yourself, you aren’t envisaging.’’ And indeed I pinched myself but I didn’t wake up. ‘‘So, I’m not dreaming on hallucinating.’’ They both said ‘yes’. Then I snapped back to realization and said out loud ‘‘I CAN TALK TO ANIMALS? Sorry about that.’’ ‘‘How do you guys get stuck in the net?’’ I said out of curiosity. ‘‘We both get stuck pretty often, It’s really bad as our loved ones died mostly to this’’ they said. ‘‘Oh, I’m really sorry for your lost.’’ I said, I felt really bad for all of the creatures. ‘‘No, no it’s ok!’’ the crab said. ‘‘We really can’t do anything about it’’ the turtle uttered. ‘‘Well perhaps, I can help!’’ I laughed, ‘‘I’m your new friend, what are friends for?’’ ‘‘Wait, really? You can help us?’’ the turtle said. ‘‘Thanks, I never thought about this second!’’ the crab said. ‘‘For me to help you, can I ask some questions?’’ I said, ‘of course!’ they both said.
I thought for some time thinking of a good question then abruptly one came upon my mind! ‘‘If it’s not much for you to answer this but what should I remove first off the beach?’’ They knew it was a pretty significant question, after for some time. They both pointed to a pile of plastic cups, bottles, net etc. and said, ‘‘you should clean that up first from the beach, can someone help you?’’ they said. I replied, ‘‘Yes, yes I do have friends that can lend me a hand, is it ok, if I tell them about this?’’ the turtle with no disinclination said, ‘‘Yes, tell your friends too.”
Then I told my crew, I can talk to creatures.’’ They all just stare at me with a blank expression and they burst out of laughter. ‘‘You? Talk to animals? Good folktale.’’ ‘‘No! I’m serious!’’ I said. ‘Fine, do you want proof?’’ Then I told to the turtle, ‘‘Hey, can you go near to the sea?’’ And the turtle said ‘Of course!’ The turtle went to the sea and waved its flappers. ‘‘See? , crew!’’ I said with a smirk. My team said, ‘‘No it must be a coincidence.’’ Then they went near the crab and desired to pet it but the crab pinched them. ‘‘HAHAHA LOOK WHO IS GOOD WITH CREATURES’’ I said. ‘‘Oh yeah? Then go pick up that crab!’’ my crew said. Then I picked up the crab and they looked dazed! After liberating it, the crab got a plastic cup. I said, ‘‘is this ample?’’ Now some of us are carefree and yet again can make this happen to our poor sea creatures and marine friends.
So, if we don’t want this circumstances again, the perpetual solution to this is very modest. Plastics are harmful, especially for hermit crabs. It’s not incredible to clean a place like the beach, our sea friends can live tranquilly. Stop using plastic that is impairing the beach and use ocean approachable products. ‘‘But everything does come to an end, so like this spree,’’ I said to the turtle and crab. ‘‘But adieus aren’t forever right?’’ They both said, ‘‘Right, until we meet again friends.’’ I said, ‘Goodbye’. Before parting the beach, I looked back at them and they waved goodbye too.
Written by: Mahira Elsa
