TUGS: The Prologue
January, 1977
In a house in Bigg City, New Jersey, five kids were playing a game. The first was a boy with red curly hair, a blue striped jumper, dark blue dungarees and red and white sneakers. His name was Salty Star, a six-year boy who had a keen interest in boats, especially tugboats due to a specific family connection.
There were two twin girls named Sophie and Sadie Jaud who had blond hair, sky blue t-shirts with a seagull, dark blue skirts, white socks and black Mary Janes. Ocho Barr was a chubby boy with orange hair, an orange t-shirt with an octopus on it, blue shorts, white socks and black sneakers. Claude Libman was a five-year boy with black hair, a red t-shirt with a crab on it, blue jeans and white sneakers.
Suddenly, they heard the doorbell ring.
"Salty," his mother called, "could you answer the door?"
"Okay, mom," Salty said, getting up.
He walked to the door and was overjoyed when he opened it. The gentleman was tall and elderly with a white beard, a blue suit, a black tie and black shoes. He was also carrying what looked like a book with them. This was Salty's great-grandfather, Captain Patrick Star.
"Great-Grandpa Patrick!" Salty said, happily.
"There's my little sailor," chuckled Captain Star as he put his book down and gave his grandson a hug.
"Hello, Mr. Star," Salty's friends called.
"What have you got there?" Salty asked, noticing the book.
"Ah," the former tugboat captain smiled as he picked up the book. "This is something very special."
With that, Captain Star entered the house and once he had sat down, the kids gathered round him as he presented the book.
"This is a journal of the various adventures the Star Tugs and the Z-Stacks got up to back in Bigg City Port's heyday."
"Oh yes, you were the owner of the Star Tug and Marine Company back in the 1920's!" Sophie said, realising.
"That's correct," Captain Star replied. "I've been making plans to have this book published so everyone will know about their adventures."
"But why now, Great-Grandpa?" Salty asked.
"Well, I'm not getting younger," sighed Captain Star. "Unlike tugs, humans can't last forever and I don't want these stories to be forgotten."
"But why are you showing us this?" Ocho asked.
"I thought you might like to hear about these stories first hand."
"Yes, please," the kids said, excitedly.
With that, Captain Star opened the book and smiled.
"Ah, now this looks like the place to start," he said, and these were the stories he told.
To Be Continued...
Author's Notes: My good friend Johnathan decided to get a new series going for Zack and myself: the TUGS spinoff series. Hey, with Big Mickey being at least somewhat canon to the SeventyVerse, it seems as good an excuse as any. So, with Salty's Lighthouse, Salty is Captain Star's Great Grandson, and there's other characters who I'm not too familiar with in that series. (I've only seen the OG TUGS episodes). Tune in next time where a ray of Sunshine enters Bigg City Port...