Tammy's Tidbits & Shorts
|
|
|
Being Grounded
Being Grounded
Who would think being grounded would be a good thing? I suppose it all depends on how you interpret the words. When you read the title, what were your first thoughts?
Perhaps it made you think of your younger years. When you were grounded from doing something, for doing something you shouldn’t have.
In that case, how would that be a good thing? If anything, it may have been good for the person doing the grounding, but certainly not good for you!
And yet, now that you are older, you realize it isn’t so great for the one doing the grounding either. I hated grounding my kids. Because of their actions, not only did they not get to do what they wanted but it limited me as well in making sure I followed through on disciplining them.
Let alone them making you feel like the bad guy when you’re trying to teach them there are consequences for their actions. That hopefully they will learn from a couple of groundings to prevent much more severe consequences life can and will throw at you later.
So no, this article is not about being grounded in that sense. Then again, when you first read the title, you may have interpreted it as “being grounded” to what is listed in the Collins English Dictionary:
“If you say that someone is grounded, you mean that they are sensible and reasonable, and that they understand the importance of ordinary things in life.”
Gee, one can only hope that those horrible groundings we received or gave out led to such a well-rounded person, right? Sort of ironic twist, to tie those two meanings together, don’t you think?
But what if I told you, it is actually something entirely different? That it literally means being grounded. As to you have your feet on the ground. Bare feet.
It’s a thing, believe it or not, and it’s quite interesting. This time of year, we all start feeling better. Why? Mainly because we are out in the sun and having fun.
When you are out on that beach, soaking up the sun, it feels good! For one, it is it a stress reliever, because obviously you are enjoying yourself.
And, I’m sure by now, most of you know what I am going to say next. It also gives you vitamin D. I knew it did, but it wasn’t until I started writing this article that my research revealed to me how? How do you get vitamin D from the sun?
It’s quite interesting. When the sun’s rays hits cholesterol in your skin cells, it provides energy for vitamin D synthesis to happen. But what does that have to do with being grounded?
I wanted to get your mind thinking about how good you feel on the beach. Most of us think the extra burst of vitamin D as being the culprit.
But what else feels good at the beach? Of course, the water itself. Whether it be fresh water or salt water. Cold or warm, it refreshes us from the hot sun.
But what else do we find ourselves doing at the beach? Curling our toes in the sand, or even walking on the beach barefoot? And this, my friend, is the grounding I wanted to write about!
If you stand on the ground barefoot, you are grounding yourself. It too can be good for you, like the sun’s rays.
Not something we really think about and unfortunately have gotten away from. Remember growing up running out the door with no shoes on?
The feel of the grass under your toes? I do. Back then, I didn’t think twice about not wearing shoes! I didn’t worry about the bugs, the rocks, or whatever else I may step on. I just ran and enjoyed the freedom.
You don’t see much of that today, other than on the beach. Maybe, we are missing out on something that is so simple yet beneficial?
When was the last time you went outside barefoot and it wasn’t at the beach? Seriously, no sandals, just bare feet on the ground? In the grass or dirt, not on a deck or patio. Your answer might surprise you.
Now what if I told you, scientists say that walking barefoot helps you absorb negative ions from the earth? Allowing you to have a vast supply of electrons from the surface of the earth.
Sounds impressive, but what does it mean? What are the benefits of walking barefoot on grass, dirt, or sand? Actually, there are quite a few!
It can help in preventing insomnia. Reduction in inflammation. Helps you improve your mental well-being. Regulates your heart’s health. And to be honest, I don’t know how or why, but it says it’s good for your eyes too?
They did say the color green is a soothing color that helps calm your mind and reduces tension. Research showed by walking barefoot in the grass can reduce stress up to 62%. If that’s the case, I might be ditching all my shoes!!! Seriously, who of us couldn’t use 62% less stress?
So how long should we walk barefoot to get some results? They are saying it takes a half an hour of exposure so it is recommended thirty minutes daily.
When will you start noticing a change? Some report benefits in the first 24 hours, others a noticeable change after a few weeks. Of course, grounding does not cure disease, but it does restore your natural electrical balance which can help reduce stress and inflammation.
Bottom line is while we are at the beach, we are walking around barefoot. Who knew that was actually grounding you and contributing to your well-being?
Why not apply that more in our lives? Allow the kids to run free on the grass. It’s good for them! Why not rip those socks and shoes off and run right along with them! Soak up those ions just like you do vitamin D!
Or, after a stressful day, either from work or life itself, kick off those shoes and go get your mail. Take the dog for a walk around the yard. Whatever, just let those little toes be free and feel the ground underneath!
Even at night, take the time to walk outside barefoot. Look up and see the beautiful stars we tend to forget and feel the earth below.
Being grounded isn’t always a bad thing, or the sensible thing, but simply feeling the earth below us and allowing it to restore our energy in a stressful world.
Perhaps it made you think of your younger years. When you were grounded from doing something, for doing something you shouldn’t have.
In that case, how would that be a good thing? If anything, it may have been good for the person doing the grounding, but certainly not good for you!
And yet, now that you are older, you realize it isn’t so great for the one doing the grounding either. I hated grounding my kids. Because of their actions, not only did they not get to do what they wanted but it limited me as well in making sure I followed through on disciplining them.
Let alone them making you feel like the bad guy when you’re trying to teach them there are consequences for their actions. That hopefully they will learn from a couple of groundings to prevent much more severe consequences life can and will throw at you later.
So no, this article is not about being grounded in that sense. Then again, when you first read the title, you may have interpreted it as “being grounded” to what is listed in the Collins English Dictionary:
“If you say that someone is grounded, you mean that they are sensible and reasonable, and that they understand the importance of ordinary things in life.”
Gee, one can only hope that those horrible groundings we received or gave out led to such a well-rounded person, right? Sort of ironic twist, to tie those two meanings together, don’t you think?
But what if I told you, it is actually something entirely different? That it literally means being grounded. As to you have your feet on the ground. Bare feet.
It’s a thing, believe it or not, and it’s quite interesting. This time of year, we all start feeling better. Why? Mainly because we are out in the sun and having fun.
When you are out on that beach, soaking up the sun, it feels good! For one, it is it a stress reliever, because obviously you are enjoying yourself.
And, I’m sure by now, most of you know what I am going to say next. It also gives you vitamin D. I knew it did, but it wasn’t until I started writing this article that my research revealed to me how? How do you get vitamin D from the sun?
It’s quite interesting. When the sun’s rays hits cholesterol in your skin cells, it provides energy for vitamin D synthesis to happen. But what does that have to do with being grounded?
I wanted to get your mind thinking about how good you feel on the beach. Most of us think the extra burst of vitamin D as being the culprit.
But what else feels good at the beach? Of course, the water itself. Whether it be fresh water or salt water. Cold or warm, it refreshes us from the hot sun.
But what else do we find ourselves doing at the beach? Curling our toes in the sand, or even walking on the beach barefoot? And this, my friend, is the grounding I wanted to write about!
If you stand on the ground barefoot, you are grounding yourself. It too can be good for you, like the sun’s rays.
Not something we really think about and unfortunately have gotten away from. Remember growing up running out the door with no shoes on?
The feel of the grass under your toes? I do. Back then, I didn’t think twice about not wearing shoes! I didn’t worry about the bugs, the rocks, or whatever else I may step on. I just ran and enjoyed the freedom.
You don’t see much of that today, other than on the beach. Maybe, we are missing out on something that is so simple yet beneficial?
When was the last time you went outside barefoot and it wasn’t at the beach? Seriously, no sandals, just bare feet on the ground? In the grass or dirt, not on a deck or patio. Your answer might surprise you.
Now what if I told you, scientists say that walking barefoot helps you absorb negative ions from the earth? Allowing you to have a vast supply of electrons from the surface of the earth.
Sounds impressive, but what does it mean? What are the benefits of walking barefoot on grass, dirt, or sand? Actually, there are quite a few!
It can help in preventing insomnia. Reduction in inflammation. Helps you improve your mental well-being. Regulates your heart’s health. And to be honest, I don’t know how or why, but it says it’s good for your eyes too?
They did say the color green is a soothing color that helps calm your mind and reduces tension. Research showed by walking barefoot in the grass can reduce stress up to 62%. If that’s the case, I might be ditching all my shoes!!! Seriously, who of us couldn’t use 62% less stress?
So how long should we walk barefoot to get some results? They are saying it takes a half an hour of exposure so it is recommended thirty minutes daily.
When will you start noticing a change? Some report benefits in the first 24 hours, others a noticeable change after a few weeks. Of course, grounding does not cure disease, but it does restore your natural electrical balance which can help reduce stress and inflammation.
Bottom line is while we are at the beach, we are walking around barefoot. Who knew that was actually grounding you and contributing to your well-being?
Why not apply that more in our lives? Allow the kids to run free on the grass. It’s good for them! Why not rip those socks and shoes off and run right along with them! Soak up those ions just like you do vitamin D!
Or, after a stressful day, either from work or life itself, kick off those shoes and go get your mail. Take the dog for a walk around the yard. Whatever, just let those little toes be free and feel the ground underneath!
Even at night, take the time to walk outside barefoot. Look up and see the beautiful stars we tend to forget and feel the earth below.
Being grounded isn’t always a bad thing, or the sensible thing, but simply feeling the earth below us and allowing it to restore our energy in a stressful world.
The Ferry
Joyce has had a long stressful week in the city. Her little apartment provides her the necessary tools to be efficient for work, but her home on the island provides her the much-needed peace and quiet her poor body craves.
The commute from the city to the ferry, though, is always stressful. Being so late, and fearful she will miss the last ferry, Joyce takes the backroads at breakneck speed. Not normally a hard task until unexpected fog rolls in. Making her misjudge a crucial turn that causes her car to roll into a ravine.
Shaken but determined, Joyce was surprised that the car only rolled once and she was able to drive the car out of the ravine. No harm, no foul and thankfully no one around to see! Besides the poor condition her car is now in and the excruciating pain in her neck, she pushes through, hoping to catch the ferry.
A little more careful, she edges closer to the dock. It seems later than it should be. In fact, no cars are waiting in line. Joyce looks at the clock on the radio and is shocked to see how late it is! Where had all the time gone? There is no way the ferry would still be here!
But to her surprise, as Joyce rolls closer to the dock, she vaguely sees a man motioning her to come forward. Even in bright sunlight she hated driving the car onto the ferry, fearful she will hit something, but tonight was way worse! She could barely see in front of her because of the heavy fog, but she is relieved she is actually getting on the ferry!
Joyce had never known the ferry to run this late, but perhaps they had been delayed due to the fog? No matter, she parks her car and gets out. Joyce rubs subconsciously at her neck. Although it didn’t hurt, she felt a need to rub it.
Surprised, Joyce realizes she is holding her iPad, then she remembers her phone was dead anyway so she must have grabbed it instead.
An older woman approaches her, “Ma’am what are you doing here?”
Startled by the woman’s appearance, Joyce answers truthfully, “I’m heading home. I know the car looks like a wreck, but it runs and drives.”
The woman tries to hear her, but the insistent noise of waves in her ears drowns the woman’s words out, “What did you say?”
Joyce realizes the woman looks a little unhinged and answers, “I’m just thankful the ferry is still here!”
The woman looks around, frightened, “No, this ferry is...” she stumbles for the right words “under repair. You missed the last ferry!”
Pissed, Joyce raises her voice, “Damn it! Some guy waved me on, so I simply followed him!”
Suddenly Joyce feels the familiar lurch of the boat moving. She looks at the woman, “We are moving!”
The old woman closes her eyes but sees nothing but the sea beckoning her. Opening them, she replies tiredly, “I guess you get your ride after all. Just stay in your car. Who knows what will happen in this fog?”
Joyce watches the old woman shuffle off. She always feels sorry for the homeless. The demons they deal with must be rough.
Joyce finds her way to a bench, that is soaking wet, trying to get on to wi-fi but to no avail. A man clears his throat, interrupting Joyce’s thoughts. Joyce looks around to see where the man is, but the fog keeps him hidden in the shadows.
Unafraid, Joyce speaks up, “Crazy how bad the fog is, uh?”
Annoyed, the man answers, “What are you doing on the ferry?”
Defensively, Joyce answers, “A man waved me on here!”
The man sighs, “Ah yes, that would be Johnny. Poor kid still doesn’t know no better.”
Joyce adds, “An older woman asked the same thing. I was going to go find out, but figured what was the point? The ferry only goes to the island, and that’s where I want to go!”
The man sneers a little, “That old woman has her own worries!”
Annoyed that people can be so cruel to the homeless, Joyce comes to her defense, “And what worries would that be?”
The man points toward the windows, “Have you seen how thick the fog is out there? Being the Captain, she has more concerns than you right now!”
Before Joyce can reply, he adds, “We should have never left the port in this fog! One person is not worth the risk!”
Joyce feels guilty but has to ask, “Forgive me, but that old woman is the Captain?”
The man nods. “Yup, I remember the day she came to us. All young like you and so proud to be a woman Captain. Me and the guys were not too sure about her. Boats and women tend to have a bad history.”
Joyce sighs. She can’t believe in this day and age there are still such thoughts! Ready to defend the woman again, Joyce replies, “Apparently she was quite capable, to be an older woman and still doing it!”
The man shrugs his shoulders and asks, “What do you do for a living?”
Joyce hates it when someone asks that question. It is never an easy answer, “I am a writer.”
Curious, the man asks, “What do you write?”
Joyce sighs, “Horror stories.”
The man laughs out loud and answers, “Really? Didn’t see you as the type. Though I admit, I give you credit for being here alone talking to a stranger.”
Joyce looks around at the desolate ferry with the heavy fog. She supposed most women would be terrified of the situation she was in. Being on the wrong boat, scary looking fog, cell phone dead, no Wi-Fi; however, she can’t help but laugh along with the man, “I know right? I should be sobbing hysterically, but I have never been that kind of woman.”
Surprised at her candor, he wonders, “Why is that?”
Joyce thinks about it before she answers, “As a kid, I used to love anything that scared me. I would take it as a challenge. The more it scared me, the more I would go back and try to conquer it.”
The man can’t help but smile, “Impressive.”
Joyce shakes her head, “Not really. Unfortunately, the thing I enjoyed most, being scared, seems no longer an option for me. Nothing I read or see gives me that thrill I first had when I was a kid.”
The man answers, “You have conquered fear, most have not.”
The man wonders, “Do you write your stories on that thing on your lap?”
Joyce looks down at her lap, “My iPad? Yes, in fact, I usually do a lot of my writing while commuting.”
The man hesitates, “I have a story.”
Joyce quickly gets her iPad ready to write. She loves when strangers tell her their stories, “Mind if I write it down as you tell me?”
The man agrees, “I’d be honored. There was a ferry due to be retired. Earlier in the week, they had stripped it. Leaving nothing but the shell. The crew was to dock it at the dock not but a stone’s throw away. Leaving none of them to worry of any risks due to lack of equipment.”
The man sighs, “What they did not know was their Captain had made an arrangement with a passenger. The inexperienced Captain thought a quick jaunt to the island and back would not be a big deal. As for the fog, a perfect cover up for the Captain’s shady dealings.”
The man explains, “These ferries are not seaworthy for the open sea, let alone without equipment to help. The crew quickly realized they had passed the dock they were supposed to go to and confronted the Captain.”
Joyce easily types as the man tells his story. Occasionally, she looks around to focus on where the voice is coming from so she can see him. Unfortunately, the fog was only going to allow her to see his outline.
Frustrated, Joyce looks back down at the iPad and continues typing. The man proceeds, “To their surprise, they are met with the passenger pointing a gun at them. They learned the passenger was on the run and no matter what, the passenger was getting off the boat so as not to be discovered.”
Disgusted, he explains, “The only thing they had on the boat was the passenger’s car and trailer, which happened to have a Jet Ski loaded on it.”
Joyce smiles, “Ah, let me guess. The passenger insisted on taking the Jet Ski because he did not want to be on the boat when they were rescued?”
The man nods, “What a nightmare it was for the crew to lower the damn thing into the sea, let alone try to tell the passenger he had no way of knowing where to go. Nevertheless, he was not about to listen. The Captain, trying to secure payment, assured the passenger that together, they would find the island.”
Joyce adds, “Somehow they did get to the island, right?”
The man nods sadly, “Yes, but once on the island the Captain refused to say anything to anyone for fear of being found out about helping the fugitive. The Captain, in disguise, left the island with the money and never looked back.”
Joyce is shocked, “This was the Captain’s crew. Surely there would be some sort of loyalty?”
The man agrees but answers, “The crew had never respected the Captain. Getting off the boat, money was not only the Captain’s reason to leave. The Captain knew the crew would have taken punishment into their own hands. They were a rough bunch, so either way it was a risk.”
Joyce is confused, “Once the boat was found, the crew would tell everything. Then the Captain would be held accountable. That was an awfully big gamble!”
The man sighs, “One the Captain thought they won.”
The man finishes his story, “The ferry was pronounced lost at sea and thought to have claimed all lives. Part of the trailer was found with the license plate still on it, placing the refugee as a possible passenger on the boat. He was pronounced dead, which was exactly what he wanted!”
Joyce is saddened by the story. “What do you think happened on the ferry?”
The man speculates, “It is believed that a rogue wave came upon them. With no power, they had no chance, and the ferry went under.”
Joyce wonders, “What happened to the Captain? Did the money bring everything it was meant to?”
The man smiles, “What most don’t know is that a Captain is honor bound to their boat. Since the dawn of time, that commitment has always been in place. A Captain goes down with the ship, not only out of honor but an escape to the consequences for putting the boat and the crew in a bad position to begin with.”
Joyce is intrigued as she writes, “Consequences? What sort of consequences?”
The man sighs, “The sea is not forgiving. Relentless, it will follow you in your dreams. It shows no mercy or compassion. It will eventually erode your determination to never return and then it will inflict its final punishment!”
Joyce closes her iPad and gets up, “The story you told me... fact or fiction?”
As the man turns, he mumbles, “Is that not for the reader to decide?”
Joyce chuckles, “Spoken like a true author! Thank you for the story.”
Joyce hears nothing in return and realizes the man has left. Feeling tired, she decides to go back to her car. The darkness is overwhelming, but somehow she makes it back inside her car.
Trying to focus on some sort of light, in the distance she sees a weird glow. A little relieved, it looks like it might be the workers. But how were they glowing? Fear washes over her like nothing before as they come closer! They reminded her of jellyfish she had seen pictures of illuminating the sea.
One by one, these jelly creatures that looked to have once been men sloshed slowly by her car. Thankfully, they pass by her not paying any attention to her - yet. Joyce hears distant screams coming from what sounds like the old woman.
Knowing she should try to get out and help her, Joyce is more concerned that when she reached for the car door, her own hand passes through it! Now, even more terrified, Joyce looks down and realizes she is not inside her own body. In fact, her own body is slumped over the steering wheel with her neck twisted at a strange angle.
Hearing the tortured screams of the old woman, Joyce realizes she is not up to conquering this fear or, for that matter, staying around long enough to conquer it! Joyce is determined not to stay on this ferry for eternity! Ahead she sees Johnny waving her forward, poor Johnny, still doing his job unaware.
Determined, Joyce manipulates her old body to do one last bidding and drives the car off the ferry onto the dock. Exhausted she lets the first rays of sunrise wash over her as she is thankful. She finally made it home.
**********
To this day, no one knows how Joyce’s car ended up on the island. The greater mystery was the time of her death. According to the coroner, her death had happened in the accident the night before.
However, the last story Joyce had written on her iPad had been written several hours later. As for the old lady, she was the Captain in the story. The torment the sea had inflicted on her all those years had finally taken its toll and forced her to face her final punishment …for all Captains go down with their ship, even if it is years later.
The commute from the city to the ferry, though, is always stressful. Being so late, and fearful she will miss the last ferry, Joyce takes the backroads at breakneck speed. Not normally a hard task until unexpected fog rolls in. Making her misjudge a crucial turn that causes her car to roll into a ravine.
Shaken but determined, Joyce was surprised that the car only rolled once and she was able to drive the car out of the ravine. No harm, no foul and thankfully no one around to see! Besides the poor condition her car is now in and the excruciating pain in her neck, she pushes through, hoping to catch the ferry.
A little more careful, she edges closer to the dock. It seems later than it should be. In fact, no cars are waiting in line. Joyce looks at the clock on the radio and is shocked to see how late it is! Where had all the time gone? There is no way the ferry would still be here!
But to her surprise, as Joyce rolls closer to the dock, she vaguely sees a man motioning her to come forward. Even in bright sunlight she hated driving the car onto the ferry, fearful she will hit something, but tonight was way worse! She could barely see in front of her because of the heavy fog, but she is relieved she is actually getting on the ferry!
Joyce had never known the ferry to run this late, but perhaps they had been delayed due to the fog? No matter, she parks her car and gets out. Joyce rubs subconsciously at her neck. Although it didn’t hurt, she felt a need to rub it.
Surprised, Joyce realizes she is holding her iPad, then she remembers her phone was dead anyway so she must have grabbed it instead.
An older woman approaches her, “Ma’am what are you doing here?”
Startled by the woman’s appearance, Joyce answers truthfully, “I’m heading home. I know the car looks like a wreck, but it runs and drives.”
The woman tries to hear her, but the insistent noise of waves in her ears drowns the woman’s words out, “What did you say?”
Joyce realizes the woman looks a little unhinged and answers, “I’m just thankful the ferry is still here!”
The woman looks around, frightened, “No, this ferry is...” she stumbles for the right words “under repair. You missed the last ferry!”
Pissed, Joyce raises her voice, “Damn it! Some guy waved me on, so I simply followed him!”
Suddenly Joyce feels the familiar lurch of the boat moving. She looks at the woman, “We are moving!”
The old woman closes her eyes but sees nothing but the sea beckoning her. Opening them, she replies tiredly, “I guess you get your ride after all. Just stay in your car. Who knows what will happen in this fog?”
Joyce watches the old woman shuffle off. She always feels sorry for the homeless. The demons they deal with must be rough.
Joyce finds her way to a bench, that is soaking wet, trying to get on to wi-fi but to no avail. A man clears his throat, interrupting Joyce’s thoughts. Joyce looks around to see where the man is, but the fog keeps him hidden in the shadows.
Unafraid, Joyce speaks up, “Crazy how bad the fog is, uh?”
Annoyed, the man answers, “What are you doing on the ferry?”
Defensively, Joyce answers, “A man waved me on here!”
The man sighs, “Ah yes, that would be Johnny. Poor kid still doesn’t know no better.”
Joyce adds, “An older woman asked the same thing. I was going to go find out, but figured what was the point? The ferry only goes to the island, and that’s where I want to go!”
The man sneers a little, “That old woman has her own worries!”
Annoyed that people can be so cruel to the homeless, Joyce comes to her defense, “And what worries would that be?”
The man points toward the windows, “Have you seen how thick the fog is out there? Being the Captain, she has more concerns than you right now!”
Before Joyce can reply, he adds, “We should have never left the port in this fog! One person is not worth the risk!”
Joyce feels guilty but has to ask, “Forgive me, but that old woman is the Captain?”
The man nods. “Yup, I remember the day she came to us. All young like you and so proud to be a woman Captain. Me and the guys were not too sure about her. Boats and women tend to have a bad history.”
Joyce sighs. She can’t believe in this day and age there are still such thoughts! Ready to defend the woman again, Joyce replies, “Apparently she was quite capable, to be an older woman and still doing it!”
The man shrugs his shoulders and asks, “What do you do for a living?”
Joyce hates it when someone asks that question. It is never an easy answer, “I am a writer.”
Curious, the man asks, “What do you write?”
Joyce sighs, “Horror stories.”
The man laughs out loud and answers, “Really? Didn’t see you as the type. Though I admit, I give you credit for being here alone talking to a stranger.”
Joyce looks around at the desolate ferry with the heavy fog. She supposed most women would be terrified of the situation she was in. Being on the wrong boat, scary looking fog, cell phone dead, no Wi-Fi; however, she can’t help but laugh along with the man, “I know right? I should be sobbing hysterically, but I have never been that kind of woman.”
Surprised at her candor, he wonders, “Why is that?”
Joyce thinks about it before she answers, “As a kid, I used to love anything that scared me. I would take it as a challenge. The more it scared me, the more I would go back and try to conquer it.”
The man can’t help but smile, “Impressive.”
Joyce shakes her head, “Not really. Unfortunately, the thing I enjoyed most, being scared, seems no longer an option for me. Nothing I read or see gives me that thrill I first had when I was a kid.”
The man answers, “You have conquered fear, most have not.”
The man wonders, “Do you write your stories on that thing on your lap?”
Joyce looks down at her lap, “My iPad? Yes, in fact, I usually do a lot of my writing while commuting.”
The man hesitates, “I have a story.”
Joyce quickly gets her iPad ready to write. She loves when strangers tell her their stories, “Mind if I write it down as you tell me?”
The man agrees, “I’d be honored. There was a ferry due to be retired. Earlier in the week, they had stripped it. Leaving nothing but the shell. The crew was to dock it at the dock not but a stone’s throw away. Leaving none of them to worry of any risks due to lack of equipment.”
The man sighs, “What they did not know was their Captain had made an arrangement with a passenger. The inexperienced Captain thought a quick jaunt to the island and back would not be a big deal. As for the fog, a perfect cover up for the Captain’s shady dealings.”
The man explains, “These ferries are not seaworthy for the open sea, let alone without equipment to help. The crew quickly realized they had passed the dock they were supposed to go to and confronted the Captain.”
Joyce easily types as the man tells his story. Occasionally, she looks around to focus on where the voice is coming from so she can see him. Unfortunately, the fog was only going to allow her to see his outline.
Frustrated, Joyce looks back down at the iPad and continues typing. The man proceeds, “To their surprise, they are met with the passenger pointing a gun at them. They learned the passenger was on the run and no matter what, the passenger was getting off the boat so as not to be discovered.”
Disgusted, he explains, “The only thing they had on the boat was the passenger’s car and trailer, which happened to have a Jet Ski loaded on it.”
Joyce smiles, “Ah, let me guess. The passenger insisted on taking the Jet Ski because he did not want to be on the boat when they were rescued?”
The man nods, “What a nightmare it was for the crew to lower the damn thing into the sea, let alone try to tell the passenger he had no way of knowing where to go. Nevertheless, he was not about to listen. The Captain, trying to secure payment, assured the passenger that together, they would find the island.”
Joyce adds, “Somehow they did get to the island, right?”
The man nods sadly, “Yes, but once on the island the Captain refused to say anything to anyone for fear of being found out about helping the fugitive. The Captain, in disguise, left the island with the money and never looked back.”
Joyce is shocked, “This was the Captain’s crew. Surely there would be some sort of loyalty?”
The man agrees but answers, “The crew had never respected the Captain. Getting off the boat, money was not only the Captain’s reason to leave. The Captain knew the crew would have taken punishment into their own hands. They were a rough bunch, so either way it was a risk.”
Joyce is confused, “Once the boat was found, the crew would tell everything. Then the Captain would be held accountable. That was an awfully big gamble!”
The man sighs, “One the Captain thought they won.”
The man finishes his story, “The ferry was pronounced lost at sea and thought to have claimed all lives. Part of the trailer was found with the license plate still on it, placing the refugee as a possible passenger on the boat. He was pronounced dead, which was exactly what he wanted!”
Joyce is saddened by the story. “What do you think happened on the ferry?”
The man speculates, “It is believed that a rogue wave came upon them. With no power, they had no chance, and the ferry went under.”
Joyce wonders, “What happened to the Captain? Did the money bring everything it was meant to?”
The man smiles, “What most don’t know is that a Captain is honor bound to their boat. Since the dawn of time, that commitment has always been in place. A Captain goes down with the ship, not only out of honor but an escape to the consequences for putting the boat and the crew in a bad position to begin with.”
Joyce is intrigued as she writes, “Consequences? What sort of consequences?”
The man sighs, “The sea is not forgiving. Relentless, it will follow you in your dreams. It shows no mercy or compassion. It will eventually erode your determination to never return and then it will inflict its final punishment!”
Joyce closes her iPad and gets up, “The story you told me... fact or fiction?”
As the man turns, he mumbles, “Is that not for the reader to decide?”
Joyce chuckles, “Spoken like a true author! Thank you for the story.”
Joyce hears nothing in return and realizes the man has left. Feeling tired, she decides to go back to her car. The darkness is overwhelming, but somehow she makes it back inside her car.
Trying to focus on some sort of light, in the distance she sees a weird glow. A little relieved, it looks like it might be the workers. But how were they glowing? Fear washes over her like nothing before as they come closer! They reminded her of jellyfish she had seen pictures of illuminating the sea.
One by one, these jelly creatures that looked to have once been men sloshed slowly by her car. Thankfully, they pass by her not paying any attention to her - yet. Joyce hears distant screams coming from what sounds like the old woman.
Knowing she should try to get out and help her, Joyce is more concerned that when she reached for the car door, her own hand passes through it! Now, even more terrified, Joyce looks down and realizes she is not inside her own body. In fact, her own body is slumped over the steering wheel with her neck twisted at a strange angle.
Hearing the tortured screams of the old woman, Joyce realizes she is not up to conquering this fear or, for that matter, staying around long enough to conquer it! Joyce is determined not to stay on this ferry for eternity! Ahead she sees Johnny waving her forward, poor Johnny, still doing his job unaware.
Determined, Joyce manipulates her old body to do one last bidding and drives the car off the ferry onto the dock. Exhausted she lets the first rays of sunrise wash over her as she is thankful. She finally made it home.
**********
To this day, no one knows how Joyce’s car ended up on the island. The greater mystery was the time of her death. According to the coroner, her death had happened in the accident the night before.
However, the last story Joyce had written on her iPad had been written several hours later. As for the old lady, she was the Captain in the story. The torment the sea had inflicted on her all those years had finally taken its toll and forced her to face her final punishment …for all Captains go down with their ship, even if it is years later.
