Rough Seas Ahead

Chapter 1

"Come on, Simon! Let's go outside and play!"

"Huh?"

"Oh come on! Wake up!"

I forgot that I had plans to go play with Richard today. I must have overslept.

"Come on! Come on! Come on! Wake up!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming! Just let me get dressed, alright?"

"Fine, but be quick about it. We need to hurry if we want to see the traders!"

I had completely forgot that today was the day the traders came back. My dad was coming home!

I think that was the fastest I ever got dressed. We ran outside to the garden where my mother was.

"Mom! Mom! Mom! Come on! Dad's coming home! We need to hurry!"

She sat up from pulling weeds. "Don't worry, Simon. I can see him when he comes back to the house. I still have a lot of work to do, you know. Be sure to hurry back, though."

"Alright. Bye!"

Richard and me sped down the pathway through the houses and to the town.

"Hey Simon, wanna race? I bet I'll beat you!"

"No you won't!"

"Then prove it!" Richard sped off even faster to the docks.

"Cheater!"

Our laughter and the sound of our footsteps made it's way through the town as we got closer to the docks. Richard was soon out of breath, and was slowing down. I still had plenty of breath, so I quickly surpassed him.

"Ha! I beat you! I beat you!"

Richard was slowly making his way towards me, completely out of breath.

"Yeah, Yeah. Hey, Look! They're here! The traders are back!"

We quickly ran over to where all of the sailors and traders were stepping on solid land once more. They all seemed very happy, and quickly found their loved ones among the gathering crowd. We ran with smiles on our faces seeing all of the familiar faces we haven't seen in what seems like an eternity. Richard was looking at all of the beautiful ships, while I was only interested in finding one in particular. My Father's prized ship. Her name was The Mermaid, and she was a stunning vessel.

I ran and ran, but I couldn't find her anywhere. She must be further down the line.

I looked and looked, but I couldn't find her anywhere.

"Richard, do you see my father's ship anywhere? Did we pass her?"

"No. I'm sure we didn't pass her. She sticks out like a candle in the darkness."

"Do you see her anywhere though?"

"No."

I was getting worried now. My father's ship has to be here. She just has to!

We reached the end of the docks. The Mermaid was nowhere to seen.

"No! No, no, no! My father has to be here! He just has to!"

Tears were begging to form in my eyes. It was begging very hard to see.

"No! This can't be happening!"

"Simon, Simon! Calm down! We can go see the dock master! He'll be able to point us straight to your father's ship!"

My face lit up with hope. There was still a chance! I ran all the way to his stand.

"Excuse me, sir. Have you seen my father's ship, The Mermaid?" My voice was full of hope. He was sure to know where my father's ship was docked.

The man had a grave look on his face."Look boy, this is going to be hard to tell you but one of the ships that was travelling with your father's said that they got attacked by pirates. They got most of the ships, including your father's. I'm sorry, but they were sunk. There were no survivors."

I just stood there. All of the hope drained from my expression to something a lot more empty. I just nodded, and walked away.

"Simon. I'm very sorry about your father. That's terrible news."

Silence.

"Hey Simon, are you okay?"

I stopped. The next thing I knew, I was on my knees, and the tears began to flow. I don't know how long I sat there and stared into space with tears flowing like a waterfall down my face, but It felt like forever. Richards words of comfort were flooded out by my thoughts.

How could this happen?

"Come on, Simon. I'll walk you home."

He helped me up and we made our way back to the houses.

~Sunset~

The tears had dried from my cheeks by the time we made it back to my house. Richard bade me goodnight and hurried off to his own family. My mother was on the porch, waiting. 

She ran up to me.

"I'm so glad you two made it back safely. Simon, where's your Father?"

I didn't even look up to meet her eyes. There was no way I could stop the tears. They began to flow like the ocean.

"Oh my... What happened? Simon, please tell me!"

I was sobbing even harder now.

"Simon, please tell me his ship made it to the docks! Tell me he's just late!"

I was completely crying now.

"Simon, Please tell me what happened!"

"Dad's ship was attacked by pirates! He didn't make it back!"

There were tears streaming down my mother's face now as well.

She embraced me in a hug, and just let the tears flow. We both just cried and cried far past since the sun had gone down.

Once we could sob no more, and our tears had run dry, she picked me up, and brought me back into the house. She tucked me into bed, and went to her own room. I just lied there, still crying.

How could someone do something so horrible to such good people. My father and his crew were not bad people. They were all very happy, and pure hearted. None of them deserved this. How could someone take away someone with just as many memories and ideas as them? They all were living, and breathing, just like them. How could someone just do that, and not even care about who's lives they affected?

How could this world be so cruel?