Cozy Beach Adventures

-7-

When I wake up, the first thing I notice is someone gently stroking my wing. I open my eyes slightly to see Wilbur sitting next to me in bed.

"Gully, it's time to get up." I hear him say.

"No...I don't want to..." I mumble. I close my eyes and begin to go back to sleep.

I hear his voice again before I do, though.

"I think your crew may be waiting for you, baby. Can you please get up?"

"Not yet... Maybe later..." I roll over to the other side, facing away from him.

"Gulliver, please don't do that. I want you to get up."

I don't reply. I want him to let me sleep a little bit longer.

"All right. I guess I'll have to water you with my watering can again."

"Huh? Oh no...I don't like that." I mutter.

"Well, don't make me do it, then."

"Okay, fine." I slowly sit up and turn to look at him.

"Good morning, sleepyhead." he tells me softly. "I think you should get dressed now. You slept in pretty late."

"I did? What time is it?" I mumble, gently rubbing my eyes.

He grabs my communicator from his nightstand. "It's a quarter till 10. I tried to wake you up an hour ago, but you wouldn't respond."

"Oh boy." I get myself out of bed. "My crew is probably waiting for me."

"That's what I told you, silly!" he replies, chuckling.

"Oh, that's right, you did." I was still half asleep when he said it, though. I didn't really know what was going on.

I grab my outfit from the closet, and then head out the open door to the bathroom. I take a look at myself in the bathroom mirror. I still look terrible. My eyes still have dark circles under them, with the added look of someone who just woke up. My feathers are rumpled again, and I try my best to smooth them out with my wings. I feel a dull pain in the back of my head, and I reach up to touch the bump. I wince in pain once again. I wonder when it will get better. 

I change into my clean sailor outfit and carry the pajama shirt back to the bedroom. I hand it to Wilbur, who in turn hands me my communicator. I put it in the right pocket of my shirt. I don't even bother to check my messages, because I know my crew hasn't replied.

"All right, baby. Are you ready to go?" he asks me.

"Yes, I am." I think I'm physically ready, but I don't want to leave him.

"Okay, I'll walk with you to the beach."

We walk together, hand-in-hand, through the lobby of the airport. I say goodbye to Orville one more time before we head outside. I lead Wilbur to the beach where I had washed up the day before. The medicine and empty cup of water are no longer there. Someone must have picked them up.

I look out into the sea, and my ship is not there, either. My crew is definitely late this time.

"Well, I guess we'll have to wait here." I tell Wilbur.

"Yeah, but not for much longer. Look over there!"

I gaze out at the open sea again, and sure enough, a ship begins to come into view. I can tell it is mine, especially since it is the only ship that comes to this island.

When it approaches the beach, I turn to face Wilbur and smile softly.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye for now." I tell him sadly.