Zoey and Zeek dive deep to have an encounter with our esteemed Trichechus manatus. They find, however, that the West Indian Manatee isn’t at all what they expected.
Zeek: Zoey, why are we in the water this week? I thought we were interviewing a cow.
Zoey: Cow?
Zeek: Yeah, cow. You know, "Moo moo moo," and all that? It says right here—
Zoey: That’s sea cow, Zeek. The West Indian Manatee. Sea Cow is just another name for it. Now please get in here.
Zeek: Aw, but I like cows. Oh, alright. (<Splash>)
Zoey: Martha should be around here somewhere.
Zeek: Ah, this is nice, Zoey. The water is so warm.
Zoey: Yes, it does feel good. Just right for our next interviewee.
Zeek: Well, if this is her usual water temperature, then I like her already.
Zoey: (Looking down at the bottom of the tank.) Hey, I think I see her.
Zeek: That? That’s just a seal.
Zoey: Well, maybe we can ask if she’s seen Martha.
(They swim down to the bottom.)
Zoey: Excuse me, but have you seen a manatee?
Martha: You’re looking at one, hon. Good to meet you.
Zoey: (Embarrassed) Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize you.
Martha: Don’t worry. I get that all the time. You know, some folks even mistake me for a mermaid! (Poses) Can’t you see it? (Laughs)
Zeek: Sure!
Zoey: What are you doing down here?
Martha: I was just having a bite to eat, dear. I just can’t get enough salad. (Giggles) I guess you could say I’m a plantoholic.
Zoey: You eat plants?
Martha: Oh yeah, I could eat them all day.
Zoey: As if you were grazing.
Zeek: Like a cow!
Martha: Oh, you’ve heard my nickname.
Zoey: He’s kind of cow-crazy at the moment.
Martha: Oh, that’s all right! I like cows too, hon. Some of my best friends are cows. Let’s go up to the surface for a breath of air.
Zeek: Air? But you’re a fish.
Martha: P-lease! I am not a fish, thank you very much! I’m every bit as much a mammal as you are, hon.
Zeek: (Excited) So you really are like a cow!
Martha: Well, technically—
Zoey: She’s more like a whale, right, Martha?
Martha: Well, we are both mammals, but my closest animal relative is the elephant.
Zeek: An elephant? No way! I never would have guessed that.
Zoey: That’s very interesting! I didn’t know that either! (Writes it down)
Martha: Ready for some air?
Zoey: Sure, Let’s go
(They swim up to the surface.)
Martha: (Taking a deep breath) Ahhhh, fresh air!
Zoey: You said it!
Zeek: Ready to go back down?
Martha: Not yet. (Continues taking a big breath) I just need to catch my breath.
Zoey: Why does it take so long?
Martha: Well, I have to fill up my lungs. They cover the length of my whole body!
Zeek: Wow! No wonder you can stay down there so long.
Martha: Right. Now let’s go get some more grub.
Zeek: Grubs? No thanks, I’d rather just eat the plants. (Martha laughs.)
(They swim down.)
Martha: Now, the best are these purple plants here. Of course, these orange ones are really sweet.
Zoey: I notice you don’t use your hands to get your food.
Martha: Well, I can’t exactly reach my mouth. (Giggles)
Zoey: So how do you get your food into your mouth?
Martha: I just bite it off like this! (Yanks the plants out of the ground)
Zoey: Oh dear! Your upper lip is split. Did someone hit you?
Martha: (Laughs) No, no, I was born that way. See, the two halves of my lip are what help push the food into my mouth.
Zoey: You are full of surprises.
Martha: I sure am, hon. How about some of this fibrous kelp here?
Zoey: Oh dear, Martha. You just broke off a tooth!
Martha: No worries, hon. That happens all the time. It’ll grow back.
Zoey: Oh, OK.
Zeek: Hey Martha, can you do me a favor?
Martha: Sure. Anything.
Zeek: I know you aren’t really a cow, but I really like cows. Can you make a cow sound for me?
Martha: Not now, hon. I’m not in the "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD."
(Martha and Zeek laugh hysterically. Zoey groans and puts away her notebook.)