Life on the Sea

Funny Story (I Drowned)

I know it's my job, but I hate being in the galley first thing in the morning. I rub my eyes as I grab the rice I put in the freezer last night to make congee. I start the boiling water and grab the frozen rotisserie chicken from the freezer as well. I set it next to the rice and stand next to the boiling water to warm me up from the morning chill. I toss the chicken and frozen rice in. I check how many eggs we've got left and decide to fry an egg for Captain and First since they prefer their congee with eggs. I look for all the topppings I usually put in and remember I forgot to put ginger in the congee. I mince the ginger and drop it in. I continue with the other toppings.

I work on chopping cilantro, scallions and crushing the dried shrimp so they stretch more. After chopping everything, I've still got a couple minutes to wait before i start portioning out the bowls and i set ou the toppings in little serving bowls.

As i move around, i am reminded of how much the galley feels like a normal kitchen. It doesn't surprise me as I've been working in here for 8 years and everyone know Captain likes to live lavishly and has the most recent upgrades on board. Only thing he refuses to have on the ship is computers and phones. They wouldn't be very useful anyways but Captain would rather have the sailing experience be "authentic", whatever he means by that. 

Once the food is ready, I put it on a serving trolley with a warming plate. I place all the eating and serving bowls and the container of chili oil onto the tray and Captain and Firsts eggs next to the congee. I go first to Captains quarters to serve him first and then First. Then, i head to the main living quarters and announce that breakfast is ready. I start serving everyone bowls of congee and let them serve their toppings themselves. Once everyone's got food, i head to the second living quarters across the ship. Its a five minute walk and then a repeat of what just happened. Finally, i head back to the kitchen and serve myself a bowl, adding cilantro, and hot chili oil and go sit on the main deck. I look out at the waves, a little reckless but not enough to splash on deck.

Near the end of my bowl, Lookout Dan comes down and stands next to me.

"Hey, Dan. You ready to eat?"

"Yeah. Is it still warm?" The rasp in his Aussie accented voice surprises me. I cant tell if he's selectively mute or if he's just used to being by himself so he doesn't talk much. But every time he does speak, he's got that rasp from not talking.

"Of course. You know i keep it warm for you, man. Come on."

We head to the kitchen and i make him a bowl and let him top it himself. I drop my bowl into the sink and prepare to go pick up the dishes when i notice the congee is much less than it should be. I shrug it off, assuming someone came in and got seconds.

As i start washing dishes, Jamie comes in to help me clean up the kitchen. He talks about potentially learning from and helping me in the kitchen while i listen and nod along. I offered it months ago but i guess he was debating for a while. When all the dishes are clean, i head to the main deck, wanting to knock out the couple of extra chores i have besides kitchen stuff.

"Oy, Kaito!" Captain Shane yells from the Forecastle, his Scottish accent ringing out across the ship.

I turn abruptly, having been sitting on the rail of the ship, looking out at the clouds. I hop off of the rail and start walking towards him. "Yes, sir?" I try to project my voice as he hates when I'm quiet.

"Start on lunch? It's gettin to be that time, an' we don't wanna keep 'em waitin' do we?"

I give him a two finger salute and head to the kitchen. I start boiling some potatoes and go to grab gravy powder and defrosted mini weenies when I notice the package is open and a couple are missing. Food goes missing all the time, but never like this.

"Captain! Keep the other- AH," I notice a young child with deep brown skin and wild coily hair eating a mini weenie as I turn to the open door.

She jumps at my scream and starts waving her hands. I calm down and try to say something to her when Captain appears in the doorway.

"You're a pirate. I told you don't scream like that. Now what did- Is that a stowaway?" He looks unnervingly calm, "Okay, bring it out. We're havin a little meeting."

While he walks away, I calm the child. She looks ready to cry and I tell her that the captain is very forgiving towards children and not to worry. I walk her out, holding her hand past the entire crew to the center of the main deck where Captain stands.

"Alright, Kaito, did ya know this stowaway was onboard? You know I'll take in a kid," Captain asks me.

"No, I mean, you heard my scream. I was just as surprised as you but, you know, we can take care of her." I start to pull her in front of me when the captain laughs.

"I'm sorry kiddo, not this time. We'll have to get rid of it," Captain says with the casualty of asking for extra bread with dinner.

"Captain, you're kidding right? You always take in stowaway kids. If it was an adult, I'd understand but," I'm at a lack of words, "come on, Cap. I was a stowaway."

"All you kids I raised, you didn't steal from me, from my crew. This isn't just a stowaway, it's a thief and I don't allow thieves. Since you seem to have a connection to it, you get rid of it. And don't take the easy way out by throwing it overboard, use your knife."

"Cap, you know me. I can't kill and especially not a child. You know I can't and you know you shouldn't." I pull the girl further behind me.

Before I can think, a crewmate pulls her away from me and another grabs me. They give her to the captain and he squints at me. "You're gonna give up your whole crew, your family who you've known most of your life, for some thief?"

"She's just a kid, she deserves to live. She deserves to eat," I plead. "Captain, please don't do this to her."

"You didn't take the food out of my sailors mouths when you were a stowaway. You can't say you're the same as it." I pull at the arms around my own, trying to reach for the girl as tears spill out of my eyes like a knob was turned in my head. "Keep them subdued, I don't want a ruckus."

I'm forced to my knees and one of the crew mates holding me down puts their knife to my throat. I push against the knife, slicing a little into my neck. I feel the blood dribble down my neck but I ignore it and keep yelling for Captain to listen to me. He seems to listen for a moment and turns. But he looks above me, at the crewmate behind me and hardens his gaze.

"I can't take this noise, get rid of em."

"Captain! Please, don't do this. Don't kill her, please!" I keep yelling at the top of my lungs as the two crew mates pull me to the railing and toss me overboard. As the wind rushes past my ears I screech, "Please, let her live Ca-"

My scream is cut off by the water flooding my senses. I try to swim up to the surface even though I know I can't swim.

I know I can get back on the ship if only I could swim to the ladder. I can try and convince Captain not to kill her if I could just get to the ladder. If only I knew how to swim. It's crazy I'm a pirate that can't swim, not even under extreme circumstances.

I feel the burning in my chest, my nose, my throat, my eyes. I feel my body sinking further into the ocean. I feel the helplessness I always feel when I start drowning, except this time, First isn't going to save me. I feel the defeat in that he probably killed that girl. I feel the darkness taking over.