John R. Hoffman is a Professor of Biology, public speaker and a scientist examining the recovery of the nervous system after injury. Since 2006 he has written several unpublished manuscripts and he is currently working on the first Nathaniel Smythe novel and short story collection. He spends his spare time with his family and running.

Seafood Buffet

The reef came alive as the tide rolled in. Feeding time. The sand shifted against the gentle current. Two eyes opened and quickly scanned the array of brightly colored fish swimming randomly, unaware of the impending danger.  The body ruffled as it emerged, slowly crawling along the reef with arms methodically probing and searching for a hidden crab or clam.

A sleek shadow races across the surface as a shark torpedoes toward the buffet line.

The octopus disappears in a cloud of black ink. It’s arms snap and it’s body contracts as it jets away, escaping to eat another day.

(Photo credit: “Octopus vulgaris, 1896. Selected as the Picture of the Day, Wikimedia Commons on August 12, 2012)

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