Could Not Help But Smile
Jade couldn’t help but smile as she reflected on her actions. The sight of the ocean waves rolling in was calming, and her gaze shifted to the empty cages scattered across the boat. Each cage reminded her that she had made the right choice.
Though her wallet had taken a hit, she knew their freedom was worth far more. What she didn’t realize, however, was that her decision would set off a chain of events she could never have imagined.
Watching The Waves
The woman sat quietly, watching the waves as her small boat drifted toward the shore. She knew she’d be back in the city soon, unaware that word of her “good” deed had already begun to spread.
As the boat reached the docks, a man watched from a distance, his lip curling in disdain. He flicked his cigarette to the ground and began walking toward her, his steps deliberate. He had plans to make her regret what she had done, and he wasn’t about to let her off easily.
Man In Uniform
Jade spotted the man in uniform standing by the dock, a sense of unease creeping over her as their eyes briefly met. Was he looking at her? She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, but her doubts vanished when he began walking toward her.
With each step, the sound of his heavy boots echoed, making the wooden dock groan beneath him. Jade froze, heart pounding. What could he possibly want?
Halted
The man halted just inches from her, his voice steady as he asked, “Ma’am, do you realize what you’ve just done?” Jade’s mind raced with confusion. Was there something she had done wrong?
Usually, Jade was not one to let anyone dictate her actions, but there was something about this man’s presence that made her hesitate. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she had stumbled into something far bigger than she anticipated, and the man’s next move would be something she’d never expect.
Impatience
The officer’s impatience was palpable. Moments after informing her that he was in trouble, he began shifting his weight from one foot to the other, clearly eager to move on. It was evident he wasn’t interested in explaining further.
Without giving her much time to process, he snapped, “You need to come with me now!” But she hesitated, reluctant to follow. The uncertainty of where he might lead her left her uneasy.
Firmly Instructed
The officer firmly instructed Jade to accompany him to his cruiser, where he repeated his demand for her to ride with him. Uncertain of their destination, Jade felt she had no other option but to obey.
Though she wasn't under arrest, Jade understood that cooperating was likely in her best interest. With no immediate alternatives, she chose to follow his lead, knowing it was the safest course of action.
Leaving Her Confused
The police officer escorted her to a magistrate’s court, leaving her confused. She couldn’t comprehend the reason for this, but there, another man awaited her arrival. He handed her a document, and as she read through it, everything became clear.
It was only after reading the document that the true horror of her actions sank in. She now realized the catastrophic consequences of releasing the crustaceans into the sea, a decision that would haunt her forever.
Ambitious Young Girl
Jade Floura was an ambitious young girl with a deep passion for wildlife and nature. From an early age, she felt a strong connection to animals and was constantly captivated by the wonders of the natural world.
In high school, Jade took her love for animals further by volunteering at local shelters and attending animal rights rallies. Her dedication to protecting animals grew stronger, and she soon became an outspoken activist, determined to make a difference in the world.
Remaining Steadfast
After high school, Jade remained steadfast in her convictions, choosing to pursue a degree in biology to deepen her understanding of the world she cherished. This academic path reflected her passion for the natural world and her desire to learn more about it.
As she entered adulthood, Jade began embracing bolder actions in support of her beliefs. Willing to push boundaries, she took risks and made daring choices, all to safeguard what mattered most to her: the animals she was so dedicated to protecting.
Inhumane
Jade always viewed hunting animals for food as cruel and inhumane. While she knew she couldn't change the industry, she tried to ignore the harsh reality. But one day, something she saw while walking down the street shook her to the core.
As she passed a seafood shop, the sight of dead fish didn’t bother her much at first. However, her gaze caught something that sent a chill down her spine—an exception among them that made her heart race with horror.
Crustaceans
She glanced into the store window and saw something she couldn’t believe. There were crustaceans sitting in tanks of water, except they were all alive. She nearly broke down, staring at them, knowing that soon they would be eaten.
She decided at that moment that she’d have to do something, but she had no idea what kind of repercussions her decision would have.
Walking In
Jade waltzed into the store. The clerk could tell that she was uncomfortable. It wasn’t normally a place she’d ever normally find herself in. She walked over to the counter and asked the fateful question.
“Hello. How much for a lobster?” She asked with hesitation. The clerk answered her, but it was nowhere near the amount she had expected.
$35 Each
She didn’t know if they were just overpriced or if he could tell why she wanted them, but his answer was, “35 dollars.” Jade’s jaw dropped. How was she going to set her plan in motion when she was basically broke?
She walked back out of the store, trying to think of a plan. She’d need a lot of cash to get all of them, but she had no idea what they actually were.
Finding A Means
Thankfully, Jade had a lot of friends with similar ideals. She made a few phone calls, and within a day, she had amassed enough donations to go straight back to the store.
She knew she’d find a means to save the animals. Her plan was shaping together nicely, but there was one thing she didn’t think about.
Going Back
The next morning, Jade made her way back to the store with a smile on her face. The man’s face dropped when she asked him if she could buy every last lobster that he had.
He seemed to think about it for a moment before saying, “Sorry, you can’t buy all of my stock.” But Jade could be persuasive when she wanted to be. She was going to get what she wanted at any cost.
Convincing Him
After a long debate, the store owner finally agreed to let her grab all of his stock. She had to end up paying him extra, but that didn’t matter to her. All that mattered to her was saving countless lives.
She organized to transport them to where she would need them, but she wasn’t going to take them home or to a restaurant like the store clerk thought.
Charting A Boat
With the rest of her money, Jade managed to charter a small boat to take out to the nearby sea. She lived on the west coast of the Sydney and was never far from the ocean. She had the lobsters transported to the boat where the captain was waiting.
But the captain would have words for her when she explained what she was doing. He didn’t seem happy about it.
Difference Of Ideas
It seemed like a difference of ideals. “You can’t just release them out into the water,” The captain said. But she was ready to fight tooth and nail to get what she wanted. Finally, the boat captain relented.
They hopped on the water with the lobsters and headed out of the bay. But Jade should have listened to the captain. He knew what was to come.
Releasing Them
It was the moment she had been waiting for. They were now in open waters where she could release the crustaceans into the water. She tipped over each cage one by one, watching the lobsters fall into the water.
After it was all said and done, Jade had saved 20 lobster lives. But she had just made a grave mistake that she didn’t know about yet.
What She’d Done
Jade smiled at the thought of what she had just done. She looked over at the ocean waves and back to the boat she was on. The empty cages that littered the boat reassured her that she had done a good deed.
Sure, her wallet was a little lighter, but their freedom was priceless in her eyes. But she had no idea what events she’d set into motion.
An Expensive Lesson
The woman waited patiently to return to the shore. She’d be back in the city in no time, but she had no idea that something was waiting for her to get back. Word had spread about her “good” deed.
The man curled his lip as he saw the small boat arrive back at the docks. He stamped out his cigarette and approached the woman - he was about to teach her an expensive lesson.
Man In Uniform
Jade noticed the man in uniform waiting by the dock. The hair on her arms stood up as he glanced in her direction. Was he really looking at her? But all doubts were erased from her mind as she watched him start moving in her direction.
His heavy soles made the dock creak as he made a beeline for her. She stood paralyzed. What did the man want?
Mind Ablaze
The man stopped inches away from her before saying, “Ma’am, do you know what you’ve just done?” This set Jade’s mind ablaze. Had she done something wrong?
Normally, she wouldn’t let anyone tell her what to do, but the man had an air of authority to him. She wondered what she had stepped into, but the man was about to do the unthinkable.
No Patience
The officer didn’t seem to have much patience. Not a minute after he had told her he was in trouble, he was shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Clearly, he didn’t have the patience to tell her everything.
All he said was, “You need to come with me now!” But she didn’t want to go. He could have taken her anywhere.
Taking A Ride
The officer insisted that Jade follow him to his cruiser. Once there, he further insisted that she take a ride with him. Even though she didn’t know where they were going, she had no choice but to comply.
Even though she technically wasn’t being arrested, she knew that for her own sake, she should comply.
A Document
The police officer took her to a magistrate’s court. She didn’t understand why, but then yet another man was waiting for her. He handed her a document, but once she read it, she understood everything.
Only after reading the document did she understand the real horror behind what she had just done by releasing the crustaceans into the sea.
A Hearing
The document was for a hearing in court. She was being fined for the amount of $800. She didn’t understand what she had done wrong. But the document explained it all.
Her hair stood up when she read the explanation. Everything all made sense in her mind, but she couldn’t believe what she had unwittingly done. She needed to make things right.
Irreparable Damage
Jade had caused irreparable damage to the local ecosystem by releasing alien lobsters into the ocean. She had no idea that the lobsters were foreign. How could they have been?
She thought they were caught locally, but the mistake had already been made. All she could do now was make amends. She’d figure out a way to make everything right, even if it did cost a lot.
Appearing In Court
Her day in court finally came, and she made her plea with a judge. She explained that what she had done wasn’t out of malice. She had just wanted to do the right thing and didn’t consider the repercussions.
After a long hearing, the judge was finally ready to give her his final verdict. She just hoped that things wouldn’t end badly.
Learning Her Lesson
The judge ruled that Jade hadn’t released the lobster out of malicious intent. But she had still made the mistake of harming the ecosystem. Because of that, she’d still have to pay the $800 fine.
She had no idea that the lobsters weren’t the local variety. They were foreign monsters. But now she’d learned her lesson and had no regrets.