Jan's Storm Warning

Jan's Storm Warning A writers cramp submission.

Seagulls heralded the rise of the sun while perched atop the heavy timbers of the dock. The five who would set out to sea on the Cheshire made trips to and fro along the dock with their supplies. Jan, the captains lady was the first to notice the deep orange and reddish tones which pushed back the twilight and the remaining stars.

"Pete, look at that. Not a cloud in the sky. This is going to be a beautiful day," she said.
Peter placed a crate of beers on deck and draped a towel over them.

"Yeah, but it also means we're an hour late."
Turning to one of the guys, he said, "Hand me that cooler, would you?."

First out of the harbor the Cheshire drew a line across the bay on its way to open sea. Jan had just come up from below decks to sit to the side of the wheelhouse in her bright yellow sun suit and dark glasses.

John, David and Mitchel were all in school together with Peter and Jan, business students all out on break for fun. Dave and Pete were considering working a summer business on the boat together.

"We'll need a little more than paint to get this baby ready. Hey, maybe I can get Mitchel to look at the engine for us. He's a great mechanic...", and they talked.

Not out of the bay yet, Mitchel was already working on his third can of beer. Popping the top, he leaned over to John, reclining on the aft deck, saying,

"Got to start this trip right!".

John knowing Mitchel only from a few classes that they attended together, felt a little uncomfortable not knowing him well and the others not at all, but it was a day on the water. And that sounded great to him.

"Ah man, thanks for inviting me this is so cool, I'm going to catch a few rays," and he pulled his hat over his eyes.

Later, after lunch the Cheshire bobbed gently in the clear waters far offshore. Everyone had found a place to sit and relax.


Jan woke first. Shaking Peter. "What was that?" There was a low rumble.

"That's nothing Jan, just the neighbor's dog."

She shook him again, shoving him to the side so she could look out the wheelhouse windows when she saw it.

"Oh my God," She knew the dangers.

"Wake... Up...Pete.., “there's a storm coming.”

“Storm?”

Peter's senses came to him. He looked up to see the sky had blackened and was closing in on them from the sea.

“Who was lookout?”

Looking out onto the deck. Mitchel sat, cheeks flushed, eyes red, looked back at him and said.

"It's beautiful isn't it man. Those lightning flashes, just sweet."

Peter, buttoning his shirt jumped down to the deck shoe-less shouting, “Everybody get up, move, we got to get out of here now!”

To Dave, who was sleeping on the bow, he said.

"Yank the anchor up." Then turning to John, "Give him a hand..., then start putting this stuff below deck. Pointing to thermoses and crates.

Mitchel rolled his head over asking, "What do you want me to do?"
Peter glanced at him for a second then grabbed a crate and headed below deck calling to Jan to start the engines. And just as promptly she yells back.

"They won't start, Pete, they won't start."

On hearing her, Pete climbed up and back into the wheelhouse when a distant flash of lightning filled the cabin.

He asked. "What's wrong?

“I don't know, there's nothing.”

“What do you mean there is nothing?” he asks.

Jan points, “Look..., nothing works!”

Peter began to pull the wooden panels to check the boat. His hands quickly traced over wires and toggle switches.

John and Dave came asking Pete what the problem was as another lightning flash filled the cabin only to be followed more quickly by its thunder.

"Can you fix it?", asked Jan.

"No power." he said.

The boat heaved up and rolled to the side, and everyone braced themselves. As it steadied, Peter jumped up, heading to the back of boat to check the battery, when he saw Mitchel already opening the cabinet.

"What are you doing?"

The cold salt air under the blackened sky began to sweep the boat in wind driven, stinging waves of rain, drenching them all.

And with a couple of cranks of a wrench, Mitchel soaked, answered, "Try it, now".


...

A few hours later, wet, shaken Peter managed to bring the Cheshire home again. Dave with John's help tied the boat up, Jan was still shaken and sat silent, crying in the wheelhouse. Peter upon killing the engines, climbed down the deck pulling Mitchel around to face him saying.

"What were you thinking? You could have killed us all you fool."

"I'm sorry man." Mitchel replied, "But, I heard the two of you, pointing to David standing to the side, talking about having me check your engine. So I just took the battery off, so I wouldn't get shocked and had a look. It was just a, safety precaution man. I...,I...” and he slumped over unconscious.

Pete took a deep breath turned to Dave, exhaling said to him, "Just..., get him off my boat?"

Dave and John grabbed Mitchel''s arms, "Come on Mitch..., get up. Time to go man".

Peter remained there on deck all the while as, Mitchel stumbled, in their arms along the dock apologizing. The rain continued to pour as a sobbing voice called to him from the wheel house.

“Peter, Please..., Take me home?”.



End


By D.S.Ferguson For the Writers Cramp Contest 5-27-10 Original Word count 998


Thank you, to the helpful readers among you whos comments insights and correction have made this revision better and me a stronger writer. -- Ironworker156

The Journey continues...