Tucker the Viking

Tucker the Viking- Chp 1

Chapter 1-------

            Sometimes all you have to do is wait. That is what I am doing now. For three months dad and mom have been over seas in England. Not a letter or word saying they are okay.

            Now three months are at an end. I stand with the other families in the growing morning sun. Quickly evaporating mist hangs low over the rolling ocean.  A single bird cry rings out. A chill creeps up my spine. Not good.

            With the last of the mist gone, two ships slide through the now calm seas. On the bow of the lead ship a man and a woman stand together. My father, with my golden hair, my green eyes, and my muscles that could crush a mountain, with my mother, with red hair twisted in a bun, gentle blue eyes, and a voice that can calm a hurricane raged sea. 

            Relief sweeps through my every pore. Swaying on my feet I feel Drake’s hands grab my shoulder for support.  Behind my own parents stand his. But not his sister. Turning around I embrace him. His own sister, Sara, went also. They both shared the same warm brown eyes, midnight black hair, and not so quiet demeanor. A single tear reflects the rising sun on his cheek.

            More fallow is pursuit. Falling to his knees, I kneel beside him. He half turns his body and cries, no sobs into my shoulder. He loved his sister. He begged her not to go. Which I didn't understand, they were just going to England. Guess he was right. Still nothing can take back what happened, forever his sister gone from him.

           His mom walks up to him. With tears in her eyes she kneels down next him and says, "It was an accident. Um, we were out to dinner and she was walking across the street. A man, he had been drinking, he hit her going sixty. She died quickly. No pain."

           Drake has been my best friend for ten years now. Never have I seen him this broken beyond repair. It hurts me deep, to see him hurting so with this much passion. If there was anything I could do I… I don’t know what I could do. So instead I kneel here, with a cramp in my thigh, and let him pour out his pain.

            “T-t-tucker… w-w-why…w-w-why… d-d-did I l-l-let h-h-her g-g-go?” Everyone wishes to be that person to say something amazing. To put their friends at peace but I am a man of few words and a calming touch. I say little yet I leave a lot.

            “Drake. No one could have known. She went on her free will. Do not,” I pause as of tears threaten to fall,” do not blame your self of any of this.” What else could I say? So I sink to sit with my legs folded and laid his head on my lap.

            Looking across the pier, I catch my father’s eyes. Nodding his head he jumps onto shore. He looks up as Sara's casket is lowered onto shore. Drake's mom stands next to him now and they both help the casket onto the ground.

            “Do you want to go help?” I ask.

            “God, no. I can’t. Not yet. Too soon.” What can I do but respect that?

            Soon everyone leaves the docks. Our parents carried off Sara hours ago to be prepared for burial. Now just Drake and I stay on the sandy shore. He no longer cries but sits there starring at the diving seagulls.

            “Tucker, Drake. We have to go back!” Standing up we walk to the car. Now we have to have a two-hour ride back to our home city. Roseville, Oregon.

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 “When we were kids, Sara would always want to play. But why would you want to play with your little sister? Right? God, she would beg me and beg me for just five minutes. Five minutes. Do you know what’s ironic? I would beg and beg to have five minutes with her now.”  Drake picks up a plate and scoops up some Mac n cheese