Line of Time

A different circumstance

Surrounded by cold unforgiving waters is an island, it is made up of large flat smooth rocks, grey and beige in color on the shore. Dirt and long flowing green grass as it goes more in land. But just because the grass is green doesn't make it a warm place to leave, the sea winds and air makes it very deceiving. A large ship is docked in the small island's port today, voyagers from far away have come to make their home here for a while, some will stay for a life time and some will return back to their native lands after a while. There are children among them and most have a mother and father with them but their is one child that stands alone. His father told him to stay away from the docks as they unload the ships, his mother had not come with them, she stayed behind to care for their house as the her husband and young son went on this journey. He is not old but he knows how to handle himself, his mature for his age and does as his father told him. He looks around the small village area and sees a group of children playing, their ages varying from two to twelve. He was 6 years old and all of a sudden a small child ran up to him.

"Do you want to play with me?" The smaller boy asked in a language the other boy didn't understand.

"I don't understand what you said." The older boy responded, leaving both of them with confused looks on their faces as they tried to under the other's language and what they had asked or said to them.  After a moment or so a man walked up to them.

"Did you make a new friend, Gunnar?" He asked his son.

"No, not really, I can't understand a what he's saying." He replied as his father kneeled down as so he would be closer to the children's height.

"What's your name?" He asked the smaller boy in the same language he spoke. The little boy smiled, his doe like brown eyes showing his happiness.

"My name's Tino." He beamed with his natural childlike glow.

"Nice to meet you Tino, this is my son Gunnar, what did you want to ask him?" He asked and waited for the child, younger than his own to respond.

"If he wanted to play with me." He answered kindly.

"His name is Tino, he wants to know if you want to play with him." He told his son as he turned to him. Gunnar nodded at Tino and they ran off to play, Gunnar's father watched as the disappeared into the village. Sure they had a language barrier between them but he was sure that wouldn't stop children from finding a way to understand each other. He was right because Gunnar didn't come back to the docks until late noon, early evening. He watched as his young son walked back over to him, he rubbed a sleepy eye and yawned. His father taking pity on his young son, he had had a long travel at sea that he wasn't used to and a day filled with running around with a new friend. He had spent the whole day unloading the ship and bringing things to the house they would live in until they were ready to go back to their home and his wife and mother to his child.

"Big day?" He asked as he looked down at the sleepy thing that had trouble walking up to him as he swayed from side to side. He looked up and gave a silent nod, his icy eyes melting into sleep. He scooped up his small frame and he went limp in his father's arms. His head on his shoulder and his dreams already started. He looked over at his venerable state and a ghost of a smile appeared. Sure Gunnar's father was a mean warrior but it warmed his heart to see his son like he was when he had been new in the world, peaceful and relaxed. He put a protective hand on his son's back and head and then started walking back to the house they had for the time being until their return home.  

As weeks went on Gunnar had convinced his father to teach him the language that Tino spoke and soon he and Tino were the best of friends, words no longer holding them back.