Chapter One
Dedicated to: JakeHarrisLover. You make the doubt in me GO AWAY! Love the feedback. It still depends on what type of cookie! J Even with sprinkles from your uncle's stash!
What I'm listening to: Celtic Woman- Beyond the Sea
I highly suggest you listen to this while you're reading the singing part.
(Be aware I changed a couple words to fit the story, but just listen and read. This is how Ariel sings to her mom exactly. All the instruments, the multiple voices, etc. It's beautiful. Enjoy.)
Link: .com/watch?v=vz_fcbKKmQA&feature=related
I was a little lost as to what I should bring to a season of crabbing. I wasn't even quite sure how long a season was or if they Phil had a washer and drier on the boat. (I suspected not.) So I just though of what I would bring if I was going to summer camp or something. I wrote a list and filled my bag as such:
Ariel's List of Shit:
7 or 8 shirts (Plain)
3 or 4 sweatshirts (Cuz' it gets cold out there and you love to share)
1 or 2 hats (ball cap style)
5 or 6 sweatpants
Lots o' socks
3 nighttime outfits
Make-up bag (Gotta NOT look like a gross sea monster)
Toothbrush
Extra toothpaste
Pads (You've been watching the calendar)
Razors and Shaving Cream
D.O. for the B.O.
Hair ties
Cell phone (To call dad)
IPod
Nightlight (Just in case)
Aspirin (We both know you're going to fall)
Paper
Pencils
I hoped I didn't pack too much and seemed like an anal loser. I squeezed the zipper and force-zipped my bag up then threw it in the corner of my room. My fingers stung on the tips. They were bright pink and unhappy.
I flopped onto my bed. Putting my hands being my head, I looked into the middle of the circle of light my lamp was casting on my ceiling. It reminded me of the sun. I wondered if I would see the sun tomorrow. Probably not. The cold was coming in quickly.
I thought: It's weird. Today I'm Ariel, the nothing special girl. Tomorrow I'm Ariel, lucky girl of The Cornelia Marie. Tomorrow all my usual routines would be broken and left behind as a boarded Phil's boat and join them on the Opilio season.
Was I nervous? Not really. Was I excited? Oh, yeah.
I looked at my watch face resting on my wrist. It was 8:23. I remembered that Phil said, "See you bright and early tomorrow!" So I decided it wise to sleep early so I would wake up early.
I thought: How early? Phil didn't tell me when to be there. When will I know when to wake up? Damn Phil.
Pulling out my cell phone, I texted Josh:
Haaay Josh! I have a question for...YOU! :D
Then I waited a moment until I felt my phone vibrate on my belly.
Hey jelly belly, shoot.
I replied:
What time are you waking up tomorrow? The Opilio season is right around the corner my friend!
Buzz (Insert giggle):
Around five. And I know, stinky! I work on a crab boat, 'member?
"Stinky! I am not odoriferous in the least!" I yelled at my phone.
Oh, mk. I do remember. I just wanted to know. Now, GO TO SLEEP! Iloveyou.
I could just picture Josh's eyes widening as he laughed at me for being odd. God I wished Josh was my real brother!
Night, Ari. I will. You kind of woke me up anyways. I love you too...like a lot. :)
Then I snapped my phone shut and tossed it onto the bedside table, happy that I got my answer and that from what I knew, Josh didn't know I was tagging along tomorrow. I wiggled out of my sweats and took off my undershirt, leaving me in my bra, underwear, and an oversized 'Eat Alaska Crab' Grundens sweatshirt that made me feel in costume. I set my alarm to 4:45 a.m. then threw myself under the blankets and stuffed my earphones in my ears.
It was half past eleven. From my bed I watched as white waves crashed against the low moon. It slept on the water. It was as full as my mind was with the thoughts of what I was going to do.
Without letting the bright orb leave my gaze, I silently crawled from under my covers, out of my bed. A small smile formed on my chapped lips. It was a beautiful smile that I missed. But for me, it was more than something pretty to look at. It was a sign. It was time now. It would allow me to be the lucky girl tomorrow and for the rest of the season.
It was time to sing to mom.
I stepped into a pair of white shorts and tip-toed out the door, even with the lack of company. I didn't want the calm air to shift at all. I would undoubtedly need the quiet when I returned. My eyes looked once more through the small crack of the door and found the moon gleaming through my window, still waiting.
I shut the door and left, happy.
A soft breeze blew across my face as I walked down the docks. It ruffled my hair, giving the scents of salts and night, my favorite smells of all. The dock creaked, moaned, and yawned under my bare feet. I wondered ad I wandered why people didn't come out here more often. It was nice.
But tonight, I hoped no one was around. I didn't want them to find me singing to mom. I didn't think they'd understand what I was doing, and frankly, I didn't want to explain.
All was quiet. Only the distant sounds of waves rushing and boat bells rocking.
I was making my way to my dad's boat, a small black fishing vessel named The Queen. It's been in our family since I could remember and then some. It was on that boat where my father met my mother. It was on that boat where my mother gave birth to me. It's also where she left my dad and I.
I didn't hate my mother. My dad didn't either. We just missed her even though we knew she was close. She watched us and took care of us from a far. Almost daily I would talk to her on the docks. My dad would watch her till' sundown. They were still in love. I could feel it when I talked to her.
The Queen was hushed. Dad had gone home. Even he didn't know what happened between my mother and I on these nights. I took a hold of the railing of the small vessel and pulled myself on.
The wind changed, pulling me towards the other side of the boat, closer to the sea. I followed without a struggle.
I leaned over the railing into the ripples. She was right beneath the surface, smiling up at me. She was as beautiful as the day she left us. Her hair was as long and as flowing as net. It was the color of night just as mine was. Her eyes were large and behind her bright green irises was only love and kindness. Her skin pale, grey yet shiny as she reached her graceful arm out of the sea.
Our fingers touched. Her cold, mine warm. The pads of her fingers felt like smooth scales, like on a fish. An overwhelming feeling of love and peace crawled up my fingers, my arm, and crept through out my body.
"Hello my daughter." She whispered.
"Hi mom. It's nice to see you again." I replied.
"And I you, my darling." Then she returned her arm down into the water and waited. She knew why I was here. She always knew.
I closed my eyes breathed in, taking in the smells and the small sounds around me. Soon they all silenced. Then I let my breath out and began to sing:
Sailing, sailing
Somewhere beneath the sea
somewhere waiting for me
my mother washes on golden sands
and watches the ships that go sailing
Somewhere beneath the sea
she's there watching for me
If I could sail as the ships on high
then straight to her arms
I'd go sailing, sailing
It's far beneath the stars
it's near beneath the moon
I know beyond a doubt
my heart will lead me there soon
I heard my voice become many. I heard the chirping of airy chimes and the plucking of harps. All of the heart beating drums, the solo violin, the flutes calling out. All these sounds coming from me, to her. They road on the waves, crashed on the beach, sank beautifully to my mother's ears.
We'll meet behind the shore I know beyond a doubt no more sailing
we'll love just as before
Happy we'll be beneath the sea
and never again I'll go sailing, sailing
my heart will lead me there soon
We'll meet (I know we'll meet) beyond the shore
We'll love just as before
Happy we'll be beyond the sea
and never again I'll go sailing
so long sailing
bye, bye sailing...
move on out captain
All the surrounding sounds rolled back when my voice silenced. Below I watched as my mother smiled proudly and with so much joy. She clapped without sound. Only small, muted waves rose above her head. I was still grateful.
I removed my sweatshirt and threw it behind me then swung my legs over the side of the boat.
I jumped to her. I jumped into the Harbor.
I sang to her again under the water.
And again, and again.
We danced against the current till' we couldn't dance anymore.
She kissed my forehead and sent me to the surface.
I was the lucky girl.