Thomas was awoken once again by the sound of slapping against the hull of the ship. He smiled. This was the best part of the night.
Thomas carefully climbed out of his hammock, and stood for a moment to steady himself. The boat rocked back and fourth as he wove his was over to the stairway. He had to be careful not to wake his fellow crew mates.
Thomas gingerly climbed the squeaking stairs up to the deck. Thomas was always nervous about being up at night. This was his first voyage and even though he had been told he could roam freely about the ship, he still was uncertain as to all the customs.
The crew had all been together for so long, they had created a culture of their own on the ship.
Young Tom had been called into the Captain’s cabin and explained the rules.
“Tom, this is your first voyage. Rules and order are the only way things are kept fair and equal.” The Caption was in no way being rude, but he was firm. Tom liked him a lot. “Every man does his part. Lazy men will not last long here. Starvation, lashes, and being left behind await any man who does not do his share.”
Tom thought that made since. He had been forced to work hard his whole life. Tom’s father and mother had died when he was young and Tom was left to fend for himself. He soon learned to work or go hungry.
“The men on my ship are free to come and go as they please. However, while on my ship you shall obey my word. Do you understand, Master Tom?”
Tom had nodded eagerly. He was thrilled to be on a real trading ship!
When The Captain dismissed him he left him with a word of encouragement. “Chin up, Master Tom. We have our pleasures as well. But work must come first.”
Tom felt at home with the crew. They had welcomed him as the newest member with fervor. Partly because the boy helped in various tasks the crew found to be undesirable, but mostly because he helped in the galley. Tom had found a knack for cooking and did so well. The crew’s diet had improved significantly since he came on board.
Tonight, however, Tom was not cooking. Tom was watching.
Tom made his way up the swaying stairs to the main deck. James and Dominick, two of the crew, were on watch.
“Master Tom? What’re you doing up, lad?” James rubbed sleep from his eyes as he asked.
“Oh, well…” Tom’s voice trailed off.
“Leave him, Mister James. That’s none of our business” Dominick was one of the helmsmen. There was little swearing t odd at night, so he really only needed to keep the ship straight.
Tom walked quickly past the two and made his way to the port side of the ship. Tom glanced behind him, but James and Dominick were already caught up in their own conversation. Tom fixed his eye on the water below and peered into the darkness.
It took a few minutes for his eyes to adjust, but then he saw the source of the slapping.
The slightest glimpse of shimmering blue reflected off the tails of the maidens below.
Mermaids.
Tom once again was tempted to feel foolish. Mermaids weren’t real. And yet, here he was. Watching them as they silently swam back and forth along the length of the ship. They jumped in and out of the water without making a noise.
Tom was mesmerized by their dance. The moon ducked back and forth behind the clouds complementing the moment of the waves in glinting off the mermaids scales. The moon shown brighter these past few nights than Tom had ever seen it.
The scene seemed to last forever in heavenly splendor. Tom shuffled slowly back and forth so as not to miss even a moment of the mermaids prance.
As the mermaids swam they also sang. The music was soft and matched their movements. The music was symphonic. Ebbing and flowing with the waves with an ever changing tempo.
Tom thought the song was sad, but also satisfying. As if they sang the ending of something. Sad to see it go, but glad it happened.
Tom sat and listened for hours. At last the mermaids song began to fade. Tom’s smile faded along with it since he knew they were leaving.
The mermaids slowly swam away farther down into the ocean.
Tom straightened, and felt a tear roll down his cheek. They weren’t coming back. Whether the mermaids told him somehow or whether he just felt it in his heart, Tom knew. That was the end. Tom sat down on the deck and watched as the sun began to slowly rise over the horizon.
He lay back and felt his eyes grow heavy. That was a good ending.
Thomas carefully climbed out of his hammock, and stood for a moment to steady himself. The boat rocked back and fourth as he wove his was over to the stairway. He had to be careful not to wake his fellow crew mates.
Thomas gingerly climbed the squeaking stairs up to the deck. Thomas was always nervous about being up at night. This was his first voyage and even though he had been told he could roam freely about the ship, he still was uncertain as to all the customs.
The crew had all been together for so long, they had created a culture of their own on the ship.
Young Tom had been called into the Captain’s cabin and explained the rules.
“Tom, this is your first voyage. Rules and order are the only way things are kept fair and equal.” The Caption was in no way being rude, but he was firm. Tom liked him a lot. “Every man does his part. Lazy men will not last long here. Starvation, lashes, and being left behind await any man who does not do his share.”
Tom thought that made since. He had been forced to work hard his whole life. Tom’s father and mother had died when he was young and Tom was left to fend for himself. He soon learned to work or go hungry.
“The men on my ship are free to come and go as they please. However, while on my ship you shall obey my word. Do you understand, Master Tom?”
Tom had nodded eagerly. He was thrilled to be on a real trading ship!
When The Captain dismissed him he left him with a word of encouragement. “Chin up, Master Tom. We have our pleasures as well. But work must come first.”
Tom felt at home with the crew. They had welcomed him as the newest member with fervor. Partly because the boy helped in various tasks the crew found to be undesirable, but mostly because he helped in the galley. Tom had found a knack for cooking and did so well. The crew’s diet had improved significantly since he came on board.
Tonight, however, Tom was not cooking. Tom was watching.
Tom made his way up the swaying stairs to the main deck. James and Dominick, two of the crew, were on watch.
“Master Tom? What’re you doing up, lad?” James rubbed sleep from his eyes as he asked.
“Oh, well…” Tom’s voice trailed off.
“Leave him, Mister James. That’s none of our business” Dominick was one of the helmsmen. There was little swearing t odd at night, so he really only needed to keep the ship straight.
Tom walked quickly past the two and made his way to the port side of the ship. Tom glanced behind him, but James and Dominick were already caught up in their own conversation. Tom fixed his eye on the water below and peered into the darkness.
It took a few minutes for his eyes to adjust, but then he saw the source of the slapping.
The slightest glimpse of shimmering blue reflected off the tails of the maidens below.
Mermaids.
Tom once again was tempted to feel foolish. Mermaids weren’t real. And yet, here he was. Watching them as they silently swam back and forth along the length of the ship. They jumped in and out of the water without making a noise.
Tom was mesmerized by their dance. The moon ducked back and forth behind the clouds complementing the moment of the waves in glinting off the mermaids scales. The moon shown brighter these past few nights than Tom had ever seen it.
The scene seemed to last forever in heavenly splendor. Tom shuffled slowly back and forth so as not to miss even a moment of the mermaids prance.
As the mermaids swam they also sang. The music was soft and matched their movements. The music was symphonic. Ebbing and flowing with the waves with an ever changing tempo.
Tom thought the song was sad, but also satisfying. As if they sang the ending of something. Sad to see it go, but glad it happened.
Tom sat and listened for hours. At last the mermaids song began to fade. Tom’s smile faded along with it since he knew they were leaving.
The mermaids slowly swam away farther down into the ocean.
Tom straightened, and felt a tear roll down his cheek. They weren’t coming back. Whether the mermaids told him somehow or whether he just felt it in his heart, Tom knew. That was the end. Tom sat down on the deck and watched as the sun began to slowly rise over the horizon.
He lay back and felt his eyes grow heavy. That was a good ending.
*****
The Captain looked up from his book at the boy laying on the bed next to him. Tom had been sick for the past three days and the captain knew he didn’t stand much of a chance of waking back up. The fever had only grown worse.
The Captain had asked that Tom be moved here once he knew there was nothing to be done. He would be more comfortable in The Captains bed in his last days.
The Captain lay his book to the side and grasped the boys hand.
“I’m sorry, Thomas” The Captain stared at the boys face willing him to get better. He wondered what the boy was dreaming about.
The Captain was no stranger to death; he could feel the boys time had come.
Tears freely rolled down his face as he watched the boy go.
As he looked on, he noticed a change.
The boys face was no longer in pain. He was at peace.
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