Junior and Rex

Junior held his flippers over his feet as he waddled along the hot sand to get to the rocks. He loved to lay on the rocks and sunbake, even though all his friends think he is crazy and call him a hot head. The kids were pointing and giggling but Junior held his head up high and continued on enthusiastically. It was particularly busy today since it is the holiday season and whole families flock out to spend the hot hours in the water, building sand castles and looking for tropical wildlife. Junior had to be charming and agile to get where he wanted to be through the throngs of tourists. He had tried sunbaking in other places, park benches, boat decks- but his irresistibly compelling well groomed nature attracts far too many children who feel the need to try to play with him. The rocks by the sea with the rough waves splashing up against the sides seems the safest place to spend the day. Problem is, he had to get across the sandy beach to get there.

Today though as Junior arrived, someone else was on his favourite rock! Jumping fish! How will he get his rock back!? He can be very charming so he tried introducing himself.

“Hello there Sir, my name is Junior, do you think we could share this rock today?” His potential new friend jumped with a fright and looked very surprised to see Junior. Before he could scurry into the water in fear Junior put up his flippers in an attempt to subdue his fright!

Junior asked him his name and walked a little closer slowly, his unlikely companion answered by saying his name was Rex. He seemed very shy and almost frozen in place so Junior decided to try and help him. After all this was not how someone so much bigger than him would normally behave! Junior had some sardines under his chin for safe keeping so he decided to share them. Rex chomped down on his sardine so eagerly that Junior wondered if he had eaten at all today! Junior gave him his own sardine too and Rex seemed very happy with his generosity. He scooched over to give him room on the rock and quietly waited to see what would happen next.

Junior, eager to chat, hopped up on the rock and laid back in the sun. With a chuckle, Junior asked “so, whats a huge guy like you doing in a place like this?”

After a long chat in the scorching sun, Junior learned that Rex, despite his size and stature is very shy and goes hungry most days cause he is just too shy and nice to get what he needs! Rex told him how he felt his name was not suitable for him since he didn’t have the tough interior that goes with a huge beast named Rex.

Rex felt so down about his situation and how his colony shuns him that Junior told him about his day and all the efforts he goes through to get to his rock each day! He told him how much he wished that he could sunbake each day on the park bench near the water feature near town. Junior loved to explore the Island and wished his name was more suited to his character, he always wished he had a name like Charles or Darwin. Something befitting the explorer he is.

Junior didn’t have many friends as his colony spent most days in the water and thought he had rocks in his head for enjoying the sun! Some days it gets up to 38 degrees in the Galápagos Islands here! If his colony knew who he was hanging with right now they would would be mortified!

A seagull came flapping over to snatch the last of the sardines when Rex in a fright yelped so loud it sounded like a dog bark! The seagull flew away in shock and the sardines were safe.

After a while Junior began to get too hot and started to bid Rex farewell as he had to cool off in the water. Once Junior slides off the rock into the water he can’t climb back as he is too small and needs to swim the beach to come back in with the tide and brave the sand again to get back to his rock. Rex was sad that his new friend was going to leave and offered to splash him from atop the rock. He flipped the water up and over Junior cooling down Junior and the rock! This gave Junior a great idea!! Junior jumped with excitement and almost slipped right off the wet rock! Rex with a sudden enthusiasm blocked his fall and kept him upright!

Junior explained his idea, but Rex was a little apprehensive at the whole idea. He really wasn’t sure he could do what Junior was suggesting. Nonetheless, they made a plan to meet again tomorrow near the rocks to give it a try. Rex went home to his colony excited for the next day. He practiced just like Junior told him to. Remembering about that seagull today was what helped him practice yelping better. Hopefully tomorrow it will sound more like a roar!

Junior practically skipped off the rock to return to his rookery, he told his family all about Rex but he didn’t dare tell them the whole truth! Junior slept soundly dreaming of the water fall feature at the park and frolicking about!

The next day Junior woke excited to join his new friend for a great adventure. Rex was less excited and more apprehensive. He was worried Junior will change his mind and go play with someone else less shy and more his size. After all Rex could chomp him down in one bite if he wasn’t so shy!

Rex was so happy to see Junior waiting on the shore for him, practically bouncing on his heels looking for him. Rex bounded up on to the shore eagerly and showed Junior how loud he had learned to bark. Junior was so impressed that Rex barked a few more times attracting a lot of onlookers who began pointing and shuffling about. Junior jumped aboard Rex and they began to travel across the sand past Junior’s favourite rock and over to the park. All the tourists got out of the way cause Rex was big and fast! When they arrived at the park Junior took a spot on the park bench and made room for Rex. He shared his sardines with Rex who chomped down on them hungrily. When the sun got too hot, they took a swim in the water feature and when onlookers came to poke about Rex’ roaring bark sent them scurrying away.

Junior was so impressed with his plan and so excited to think he can do this every day now. He was also really proud of his new friend who took great strides today in being more brave.

An improbable bromance between a Penguin and a Sea Lion was formed on the Galápagos Islands, Junior with his quick thinking and endless supply of sardines and Rex with his giant bark was the perfect friend to protect them.