I like to write alot, sometimes I write short stories. My friend Tim Brothers and I have been tossing around ideas for a book of short stories that he would illustrate and I would write. Here is one of the short stories, unedited, that will be used in the book if we ever get around to it…
The salty sea air breezed through the morning sun and wilted and whirled under the gulls, checking itself passing the buoys in the bay and the boys and their mums in the sand yelling to fathers and brothers sailing out to parts unknown. This particular sea breeze caught up one seaman’s lucky cap and it lofted away and away.
The seaman wasn’t distressed, this was his first voyage further than the old fishing haunts his father introduced him too. He waved a last wave to his mother and youngest brother.
He ran a hand through his sandy blonde hair and smiled, leaving his blue eyes twinkling. Turning on his heel, he reported to his captain and took to working.
The work on the vessel, aptly named the adventurer, was hard.
It was hard, but solid work. The young sailor loved the sense of comradarie and he saw a bit of his father every time he grabbed a thick knotted rope on the bow.
That first night was hard to sleep, the excitement forced him to toss and turn. He pulled the coarse blankets to his chin and held his eyes as tightly closed as he could.
Just as the dreams started to flood into his murky subconscious, he awoke with a start.
A great and terrible noise came from outside the sailors’ quarters.
The seaman sat up and looked around, his compatriots were asleep. His eyes were dry and scratchy. Pulling his trousers up and his jacket over his cold body, he made for the door. Again, a terrible noise startled him from outside.
With all the bravery he could muster, the sailor opened the cabin door and stepped into the inky blackness.
Straining he tried to walk toward what he assumed was the source of the noise.
CRASH
Water curled up over the side of the railing and slid easily across the deck.
He walked to the side of the railing and peered over.
“Hello friend,” cheered the most massive whale the sailor had ever imagined. “I was hoping I would meet a boy with eyes as blue as the sea I call my home.”
Now, the sailor was obviously scared, but the whale had an easy nature and his gentle smile and kind words settled the boy.
“Well,” the boy whispered slowly.” I have never met a whale before, nor seen one as great as you.”
“Of course, There are few whales to match my size and wit!”
The conversation continued late into the night, the boy and the whale became great friends. The whale told lavish stories of the beauty and majesty of the deep. “Come and explore the deep with me!” Bellowed the whale. “I have much to show a great friend such as you, things a human has never before set eyes upon.”
“Well, whale I would of course love to, but as you know I need to remain above water.”
“I understand, but do you not want to have a great story to tell your loved ones when you return to shore?”
The boy thought about this. He thought of his young brother, how his eyes would light up as he recounted the story of his night with the whale, and of his mother who would hug him so close and love him more than any other. Finally, he thought of the beaming pride of his father emanating from the blue eyes that mirrored his own.
“You are right whale, I shall see all that you have to show me.”
With that the whale extended his fin and the boy grabbed ahold.
The whale squeezed him close and asked, “Are you ready friend?”
The boy said yes, and gulped down the biggest breath that he could.
The whale flipped over with a mighty splash and dived down into the depths of the ocean.
The boys’ eyes burned with the stinging salt of the sea. It was more beautiful under the waves than he could have ever imagined, the moon lit up schools of brightly colored fish and other mysterious creatures.
The whale continued deeper and deeper, until finally the boy began to get nervous.
“I need to take a breath, whale!”
The whale smiled calmly, said nothing, and continued his dive.
“Whale, I desperately need to breathe!”
The whale smiled calmly, said nothing and continued his dive.
“PLEASE WHALE!” The boy thrashed wildly and only felt the whales grasp tighten around his struggling body.
The whale smiled calmly and continued his dive.
“WHALE!” The boy thought of his mother and brother, and of his wondering father as he realized he was not going to get the oxygen he desperately needed.
The boy writhed and took a long deep breathe of black salt water.
The whale looked down into his arms, and saw the lifeless boy.
The whale smiled, and let loose the boy who plunged to the bottom of the sea. Down, down, down he fell until he hit the sand with nothing but fear and a lack of understanding in his eyes.
The whale smiled calmly, and swam deeper, deeper, deeper into the sea.
I’m curious to know what you think!
