It was a draughty day and the sky was a dismal grey. Delma awoke as the sun peeped out from the horizon.

“A storm’s approaching,” she predicted as she swam around the lake as part of her morning exercise. On return her home to the underground caves in the lake, she saw Olly the octopus waiting for her.

“Olly Sir, to what do I owe this honour?” she asked in delight. “Please come and have breakfast with me. I have picked the most delicious weeds from the lake banks. They are your favourite kind!”

Olly had been Delma’s teacher, school principal and still continued to be her mentor and neighbour. It was always a pleasure to meet him.

“I hardly see you any more, Sir,” Delma remarked as they enjoyed breakfast.

“Yes Delma. Writing my latest book has been keeping me quite busy. But today I have another concern which has brought me to you,” Olly said.

“It would be an honour to be of any service, Sir,” replied Delma.

“I wish to leave a will and I want you to be its witness,” the octopus said solemnly.

Delma was speechless. “S…sir,” she stammered, finally finding her voice. “What in the world are you saying?”

Olly smiled at Delma kindly, “My dear Delma. There is no need to look so shocked.”

“Sir, why? Are you well?” she croaked in a hoarse voice.

“Yes, I’m perfectly fine. But the fact of the matter is that I’m old. And I have a few possessions that I need to leave to different people and places,” Olly explained softly.

“And I need your help in doing so because I trust you will not get emotional about this. You see, my wife, Olenda, and daughter, Olivia, will get very upset if I talk about wills so I can’t ask them for help.” After a pause Olly asked, “So can I count on you?”

“Y…Yes,” stuttered Delma. Olly had never asked for a favour from her. In fact, Olly had always been there for her, even giving her shelter for months in his home when she was too scared to live alone. There was no way she could refuse him.

“Good,” smiled Olly. “It’s Sunday tomorrow. I’ll be here tomorrow morning and we can write all the points down and I’ll sign it in front of you. I have also invited Luke, my son-in-law. He has promised not to tell my daughter, Olivia.”

Delma nodded. That evening when she met her best friends, Din Din and Dazel, at the lake bank, she really wanted to confide in them and take their advice. But she also didn’t want to betray Olly. So she decided to remain silent.

“Why are you so silent today?” asked Dazel when Delma didn’t laugh at the joke she had cracked.

Delma smiled weakly, “It’s nothing. Just worried about the storm brewing.”

“Yes it’s likely to rain hard tonight,” shared Din Din. “Our stepwell will be filled if it rains. I’m really looking forward to it.”

“How can one creature be afraid of one thing and the other count it as a blessing?” Delma wondered aloud.

“It’s all a matter of how we look at things,” said Din Din. Delma nodded thoughtfully. Delma could hardly sleep that night. Even though the wind howled and the water in the lake churned, she was more disturbed by her thoughts about Olly.

“I cannot imagine my life without him. Olly is not just a teacher but a father-figure to me — the only family I have apart from my best friends, Din Din and Dazel,” she thought.

Just then there was a sound at the cave’s entrance.

“Delma,” a voice came above the sound of the wind and waves. “Are you all right? If you’re afraid of the storm you can come and sleep in our home.” Delma saw it was Olly.

Her eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Olly Sir! That’s so considerate of you. Who will worry about me when you are gone?”

“I’m not going anywhere soon,” said Olly caringly. “But the fact of the matter is one must be prepared for the worst. That is what logic teaches us.”

Delma nodded but tears still flowed down her cheeks. “Reality is hard to accept, Sir. And I won’t accept it as long as I possibly can.”

“I didn’t think that making my will would be so distressing for you,” remarked Olly with a frown.

“No Sir, it’s just that I don’t want to say no to you because you would never have asked me if it wasn’t important,” Delma replied gravely.

“Yes, I do want you to be the witness; you and Luke are the most trustworthy creatures I know,” said Olly. “Now come, do you want to sleep in our cave?”

“No Sir. Just knowing you and Olenda are nearby is enough security and comfort for me,” replied Delma.

The next day the sky had cleared and was a refreshing blue. Olly and Luke arrived at Delma’s cave bright and early.

“Good morning, Delma. Let’s get to work!” the octopus said pleasantly.

“I’ve already noted down all my possessions — first, my house — it will go to Olenda, of course. My books — I have loads of them — to my daughter Olivia and son-in-law, Luke. My inventions and experiments — yes, I have a room full of them — to the Aquatic School Library and Laboratory. And last of all my trophies and accolades — I want you to have them Delma,” Olly finished with a smile. “That’s not a lot — no gems or pots of gold but it’s all very precious to me,” Olly added.

Delma was overwhelmed. She saw Olly sign his name at the end of the list made on a banana leaf. Luke signed it and passed the reed pen to Delma. Delma signed the document with shaking flippers.

“Well then! I can be relieved. My possessions will be in good hands,” said Olly with a wise grin. “Now I can focus on finishing my autobiography. Not having a will was nagging me — I’m glad it’s done.”

Delma saw how relieved Olly was. Suddenly she was glad that she had been there with him through the signing of the will. It showed how important she was to him and how much he trusted her.

“May you live a very long and healthy life, Sir,” Delma said.

“Amen!” answered Luke. And Olly just smiled.

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