Windfall Island

[Caira Ayryn]

Today, the ocean breeze was going north to northwest, blowing over some white, puffy clouds across the vast azure sky. The ocean air tasted familiar, though, he had very rarely been to a place without the fragrant saline splash, Tom was glad that his crewman spotted his next island for delivery. Finally, they had arrived.

A few blinks against the gusting wind and the old man hobbled out onto the old but looking-like-new deck of his charter ship. It was due to make port at Windfall Island at noon. It was eleven thirty-five. His crewmen were hustling some shipment above deck, shouting to one another about where to steer the ship to get it closest, and keeping busy with the hubbub that was ‘landing’ so to speak. The gruff old man, with a slightly aged-kissed face ventured to the highest deck of his ship, limping slightly, as the cold air made his joints stiff, he continued to hobble to the top. He held his head high, while he looked across the waves and into the growing green of the island. It was a beautiful place, and every time the captain had a shipment, he always budgeted time to enjoy it, while his prized crewman got a well-deserved rest.

Tom's men prepared the ship for port, casting an anchor in tow, when they grew close, grunts of men working hard swirled with the air full of gull calls and boat horns and his vessel slowed to a stop. Aboard his ship, other than his crew, his shipment, and supplies, was a tall white cat, by the name of Marla. Her tail quivered as she tasted the scent of land, and she eagerly paced the edges of the deck, waiting to jump from the wall and onto stable ground. Having a cat aboard a ship was lucky, or at least, he had been lead to believe it from a young age. Plus, the feline kept the mice out.

The captain directed his men, but now, everyone was so used to one another, they just kept on bustling till their supplies were being carried onto the dock, as the old captain signed the papers procured by some of the townspeople. "Aye, and good day to you," Tom signed off on some paperwork and his crewman, CJ collected the cash, hiding it within the stores of the ship.

"Captain, I'll have the men continue unloading, and then, are we taking a shipment of this island's goods at all?" CJ asked, twice observing the notes from the shipment schedule.

"Ehh, you know I'm always lookin' for a load, but we don't got one unless someone offers, our vessel's a little light today, but in order to deliver a new shipment, I have to know where it's going. Also, sonny, I need to set some ties with someone who ‘re willing to export some good with willing buyers. We'll be land-bound for a few days or a week, sound good CJ? Pass it on to the others too, tell them they're free to enjoy the town as they like, and that they have done a nice job." Tom nodded and was off the ship almost as fast as Marla, who's white tail had disappeared down the dock, she and the captain were alike, in that they were ready to explore.

Porting meant that they had ceased sailing, which was one of Thomas’s favorite things about living. To him, sailing was almost better than breathing, and Thomas couldn’t even imagine a world which had air without the taste of salt. But, the land was just as fun, there were new possibilities with every new person you met, and a classic characteristic of an old seaman, was that he always had a story to tell..