Category: Writers Block
CREEEACK CRAAACCK! CREEEACK CRAAACCK!...... CREEEACK CRAAACCK! …there it is again, CREEEACK CRAAACCK!..... CREEEACK CRAAACCK! …that dreadful noise, CREEEACK CRAAACCK! and whatever can it be ponders The Maiden Fair as she bolts upright from her bed while in the other room opposite the door from her oh so private and oh so warm and comfortably cozy smallest of bedrooms she can hear suddenly too that The Lad has awakened from his bed made up upon the sofa in the livng room…. CREEEACK CRAAACCK! CREEEACK CRAAACCK! …and from outdoors in the little shed converted into the smallest of barns with plenty of warm hay can the Baaaas!!! suddenly be heard. Just on the other side of the wall of her room The Maiden Fair is given to hear The Captain Brave and True bellow out… It is only the ice cracking on the lakes…SpringTime has finally arrived… Now go back to sleep. What’s the matter, what with all the commotion going on ‘round here I am given to think you folks have never encountered a SpringTime before and its season of thawing……
With those comments The Maiden Fair was given to smile. This bit of a gruffness was so unlike the gentle manner she had come to know personally of The Captain Brave and True and she knew it was that so many were the thots on his mind. For with SpringTime coming and now with the waters apparently breaking up she knew he so desired to get all of the last of the Ship's overhaul of the motor done and to be readied for a new season of Shipping, making journey from Port to Port, maintaining business and once again simply to be upon The Waters Great. Only moments had passed and it seemed The Captain had drifted off into sweet slumber…but….as far as that those dreadful sounds out on the frozen waters, well, they continued and as they did the Baaaa!! Baaaaas!!! of the Woolies went on and on till at long last the Lad rustled himself together and soon the faint sound of the door quietly closing to the outdoors could be heard. Yes, trust the Lad to go and care for his prized Woolies thot The Maiden Fair.
… from her notes she read these words that previously she had penned so lovingly in her journal…. while taking first a few moments, pondering, giving thot, as The Lad was already snoozing and breathing deeply, already sleep coming upon his tender life once again… she in the far distance hearing first early morning chirps of birds as upon branches bare awaiting for the budding forth of new leaves and blossoms…Winter had seemed so long a time of passage and yet really was it just in months nine since she first came to know of the deep and abiding faithfulness of her dear friend, The Captain Brave and True…
Such a lovely time in this the Nowness of Time for it was SpringTime and it was being experienced as never quite before…those echoing sounds of the ice breaking. They were both somehow Breath Takingly as well as Life Sustainingly beautiful. Going to the stove, reaching for the tea kettle and pouring more of the heated water over the fragrant tea, taking journal in hand and finding these words of a previously time in passing penned….
It was decided that Cook would not make the journey from shore with the ice cutting boat crew as well as The Captain Brave and True, rather he would set about to settling in with his daughter for over the winter time break. It would be Springtime when he and The Captain would meet up to set sail once again. Besides there was no food left except for the close to 950 pounds of unpopped popcorn kernels that yet remained in the galley for him to make meals on The Zephyr Splendour so in reality his services for this trip were not needed. The Lad and Woolies would also remain on shore as well as The Maiden Fair, but as for the others they would be making the trip to bring in The Zephyr Splendour. Cook handed the boxes of camping cups n- plates to The Twins as well as the popcorn popper, camp coffee pot and the like saying, “Make sure these are placed in the kitchen. Just leave them on the counter area and I will attend to them later on before the new shipping season takes place. Fellows, I sure did enjoy our days we spent and more so those last few weeks of the most pleasant evenings, discovered something in those weeks not known all summer and that being you fellows are really taken to song. Perhaps you might you set sail again with us. Don’t know how we would have made it in to safety without your brawn. You fellows really came through for us.” The Twins were so taken with the show of appreciation that together they grabbed onto Cook saying, “Ahh, but it was our lives saved on that ship, saved from the restless carelessness that we had been existing in…. and who knows perhaps we shall all be given to set sail once again. You know we are going to be staying in that same town just around the bend from here where The Captain has his small cabin,” they made reply. “Though you know I wouldn’t mind staying here,” made reply of one of the Twins. “Say?” said the other Twin. “Well, this church I’ve already taking a liking to. Good music is not always easy to come by.” With the other replying, “Tis true and hmmm Cook, maybe we shall meet sooner than expected.” with The first Twin going on to say, “You know here too in this Harbour Port Town we are considered heroes of sorts and I could get real used to being treated like a hero,” with brother replying, “Yeah, ‘tis true brother for in that other Town the folks there know us rather as drunken wasted worthless has beens.”
The Maiden staying on shore till at long last as the ice breaking boat slipped from view and way out on the frozen waters had met with the horizon when Cook said, “Let’s take a stroll through Harbour Port Town what do ya say Missy?” and Maiden replying, “Why certainly!” The Main Street of Town went on for a couple of blocks and several were the little shops of interest. They came upon a little store that was somewhat Country in feel. Antiques lined the walls and the folks running the place were friendly enough. All of a sudden The Maiden Fair stopped in her tracks when noting various brands of popcorn and giving a tug on Cook’s sleeve saying, “I’m going to purchase a bag of popcorn kernels for The Captain as a Welcome to shore gift,” she said giggling all over. “Missy! You are not really gonna do that are you… why I do believe you are,” Cook said with a twinkle, “and look over there, one of them new fangled air popcorn poppers. Think I will get one of those for The Captain.” He said with a grin. “Can’t have too many pop corn poppers you understand Missy.” “Well, you know that is definitely right,” replied The Maiden Fair. So together Cook and Maiden bought and put together a surprise package for the soon to return Captain. Soon it was that The Lad had found them and when discovering what they were up to said, “That Maple syrup we had when butter was scarce sure was mighty fine, lets get some for The Captain and you know how a health fanatic he is and well, food stuffs that grow on trees like apples and cherries and oranges are good for you so you just know that this syrup stuff is REALLY good for you ‘cause it grows inside the very heart of the tree trunks.” So it was that Maple syrup became apart of the “We Care About You Package.”
Meanwhile out on the frozen Waters Great the ice breaking boat was steadily making headway. Hour after hour they ploughed on and on… Came to be about the noon hour and the baskets with food stuffs were delved into. Ahh so good indeed and filling the piled high deli type sandwiches. The soup was hot and to their surprise home made pies were there to be found and devoured. The Captain taking note of the special melody that only The Maiden Fair’s seagull could make tossed a bit of the food stuffs out…The Laughing Seagull dived and swooped and flew, tipping his wings and merrily laughing while beckoning his mate and winglets three to come and dine. Before too long a time a radio call came in. It was Cook. “Captain! It is absolutely the greatest thing to just listen to that sea weathered voice of yours. How goes…anywhere near The Zephyr Splendour yet?” with The Captain making reply, “Well, we’ve gone well past The Isle of The Whispering Oaks and gone by a few of the places too where remains of some of our fires we started to keep ourselves warmed while enroute to The Harbour Port Town remains even yet, well more so as soot patches on the snow, yet still our markings of those campfires are leading us onward… should reach The Zephyr within the hour. As long as this clear weather holds we should make it back by tonight. Tell Maiden Fair her pet seagulls are here with me and I’ve just finished feeding them for her.” With Cook making reply, “You know I will tell her and not to give anything away but she has a bit of a surprise here waiting for you. I know she misses you terribly but her and Lad here are all doing fine and Oh here Lad wants to speak to you.” With that the radio speaker handed to Lad. “Captain! Oy! I miss you and so do the Woolies. They look so sheepish when you are not around. Also just so you know, what you are getting is… is .. er ummm… is real healthy!” at that the Captain simply saying, “Hmmmmm,” questionly.
Meanwhile out on the frozen waters great the ice breaking boat was just coming upon The Zephyr Splendour. Sunset was still some hours away as they boarded the ship so grand. The Captain Brave and True lovingly caressing the rails of the ship. “Oh how I’ve missed you!” he exclaimed. The Twins doing as Cook had bidded, placing the boxes of cooking items on the counter of the kitchen then heading back to the main deck.
The warmed tea, well, what was left of it, had now grown cold….
Finding the cabin emptied and discovering a new day had dawned and dawning must have been a couple of hours before for the sounds of the Port Town were giving signal that all must be going on in the usual manner. The Maiden Fair went to the sink, washing her tea cup as well as the few dishes left by the Lad and Captain… with The Maiden Fair first lifting the latch on the window above the sink area, lifting up the storm window that had kept out all of the storming days of Winter’s blast and now allowing for the warming SpringTime breeze to filter through the screen…oh such refreshment she thot. The morning work was soon completed and with that the Maiden Fair ventured outdoors, crossing the road and there walking for awhile by the water’s edge that still in a frozen state remained only with large gouging cracks separating the ice and making for small seeping of water to flow forth. She hadn’t been long by the shore when all of a sudden…SWOOP!...Ahh! Laughing Seagull, your mate and winglets three, she rejoiced in welcoming greeting while taking from a small bag some crumbs of bread as well as a few popped kernels from the last evening’s treat of popped corn that she along with The Captain Brave and True as well as The Lad had feast treated upon… Her treasured seagull once again tipped his outstretched wings as a way of giving Thanks for the bounty for himself and family, then with one more SWOOP the seagulls soaring into the heavenlies and in the dazzling light breaking forth from clouds was soon silhouetted and once again taking flight to distant horizon.
“Ah Lady what is that you are cooking” exclaimed The Lad upon entering the cabin just ahead of The Captain Brave and true after a long hard day’s work on The Zephyr Splendour in making the all out effort to set sail before the close of two weeks for quickly the ice was melting and The Captain was so desiring to set sail and the open waters were always giving call to his spirit. This being settled in one place for too lengthy a time was simply not to his pleasure.
One by one the days went on, continually warming while evenings brought showers of thunderous rainfalls and nights so cool that even though SpringTime had arrived a fire on the hearth was still most welcomed. Then it was one evening by the fire as The Captain Brave and True and Lady Fair were given to pleasant conversation that The Captain spoke how Sandy, The Cook’s daughter, had phoned in that day to the shipping yard leaving him a message telling how her Dad was to arrive on the morrow to spend some time in their Harbour Community, stopping by the shipping yard and hoped that he could share in an early dinner at their cabin so as to make it in time back over the bridge that connects their two Harbour Port Towns so as to be able to pick up his daughter from work, given that her had borrowed her car for the day.
Well, this was just too much now for the Captain Brave and True and up he rushed with The Lad in tow. The Maiden Fair was just rising to her feet with the most worried look on her brow. It was only after The Lad and The Captain ran out the door that Cook caught Maiden Fair by the arm and in so kind a way saying, “Missy, fear not…for it is only I…well…I hope you don’t mind but I was playing a bit of a joke on The Lad…and REALLY everything is o.k. with the Lad’s Woolies…this I assure you on my word of honor,” and with a mischievous grin he said, “Come on Missy, we don’t want to miss all this surprise now do we?”
When Cook and Maiden Fair arrived at the little barn they could hear such loud the commotion that was going on just inside of it. The poor dear Lad was heaving in tears. His heart seemed to be broken in two and upon The Maiden Fair’s entrance he running to her and grabbing hold as if it seemed to her for dear life he was hanging on. The Maiden taken a brief look at The Captain who was giving a bit of a shrug to his shoulders, not quite knowing what all to make of the situation before them. For it seems that The Lad’s most prized and valued Woolies, the ones he had raised from little lambies all these many long months, well, something was happening to them for it seemed they were turning into Bunny Rabbits!! “No!!!!” shrieked The Lad, “This simply can not be happening,” he said in so dreadful a voice. “Lady just come over here and notice that sweet Woolies of mine have rabbit skin covering their fleecy backs and fuzzy tails growing and…and...sob…sob...and sob…sniff…sob… of all things the one Woolie already has rabbit ears and I am so afraid but I think already the other little Woolie has started growing rabbit ears to. How absolutely…” and off again into heaving bitter tears the Lad was given to shed. He going on to say in-between tear drops, “These were to be the finest sheep shown at the 4-H Fair and now…. I am afraid no showing them off. Oh dear Woolies I love you,” and he running to them and hugging them close. When all of a sudden the rabbit fur came flying off!!!! “What!??!?! Is this,” cried the Lad and with that Cook strolling over to The Lad saying, “Well, well, well if the Easter Bunny hasn’t already paid you a visit this year. I have heard that in shipping communities that good ol’e Long Ears comes early to Lads and Lassies who have been good, giving sweet surprises.” With Lad chiming in, “You call THIS a Sweet Surprise!!” Cook going on to say, “Hmmmmm Lad you do have a point there but over there in the corner, what is in that basket….” The Lad running towards it and of all things, “Treats!” “Yeah! for good ol’e Long Ears,” beamed The Captain Brave and True with Maiden Fair trying her best to stifle back from giggling uncontrobably. This was just too much fun! Baaaaaas!!!!! for miles around could be heard in amongst the laughter of that day.
It was on early Wednesday morning rising, just before The Captain left for the shipping yard that he turning to The Maiden Fair saying, “Lady, remember now, I am taking off work early this day, at noon, so as we can make the hike over to the other Port Harbour for I do believe it shall be a treat the way Cook has given description of the unveiling of the carved words in stone at the base of The Mountain, you know the Mountain I speak of. It is that one, if I am thinking correctly, about that one you told me about on that early morning, the day after Christmas in the early morning hours when you made a brief hike to just the base of it as dawn was being herald in…. and to think, The Twins received this as a commissioned job,” he said wonderingly.
So it was at noon when they along with The Lad took off on foot for the festivities. It really was not all that of a great hike what within less than an hour reaching the bridge connecting the two Harbour Port Towns and then a quick jog over the bridge and once on the other side already the festivities could be heard what with the local High School bands playing merrily away. The Lad jumping up and down in delight when noticing that a ferris wheel had been brought in for the day. Clapping his hands and exclaiming, “This is gonna be so much fun!”
It was just last early evening when The Captain Brave and True along with The Lad took of the last bulky items to be aboard ship as scheduled was The Zephyr Splendour to set sail once again within less than 24 hours. They also had placed the finishing touches on the newly build stable to house the Woolies. It was in the same location, only this time with a bit more roofing to keep out the glare of the Summer’s sun as well as if this year was in any way to be as last and also keep out the howling blasting snow of an early Winter as it seemed set in though really Winter was not so early, it was just the shipping season has ended so late in the season this last Winter in passing.
While The Maiden Fair was just finishing up getting the last of her personal items in place The Lad gave a slight knock at the door saying, “Lady, Cook says that less than one-half hour till breakfast. I am going now to get my flute as Gregorus must be in the dinning area for I can hear his harmonica playing… Oh I can hardly wait to show him how far I have progressed.” With that The Lad was gone and The Maiden Fair went out to the main deck to wait for the call of the breakfast bell. Going to the rail of the ship and feeling the pulsating rhythm of the ship upon the waves, it wasn’t long till The Captain Brave and True joined her by her side and placing his arms gently about her in one of the most sweetest and dearest of hugs, whispering in her ear, “I’m glad you are here Lady.”