Short Story: #1 The Pier
So, I've been told that the music you listen to as you write has an effect on how you write, or how the story tends to play out. So I'm going to try it. So today, it's easy going electronic.
Walking along the pier, feeling the salt spray wash up, she shivered as chills ran up her arms. The pier. Always silent at this time of day, despite the wonderful weather they always seemed to have this time of year. Holding her hand above her eyes as she walked along, wishing she had brought a hat for the glaring sun. It seemed that no matter how brightly is shone, the sea always managed to catch the warmth with it's frigid sprays along the waterfront. But she didn't mind. Buttoning up her cardigan as the wind became harsher she reached the end of the dock, watching out over the water, her skirt flowing about her, she shivered again as another spray flew up from in front of her, this time nearly wetting her shoes entirely.
She lowered her hand slowly, squinting out over the water as she looked in vain for any sign of a tall masted sloop, which she knew deep down would have no chance of coming back. Every day, for a year, she had walked down that pier, looking now more out of habit than of hope, for the sight of a dashing red sloop with the yellow striped sail.
Walking back a ways, she dusted the sand off of a bench, closing her eyes and letting the sea spray and sounds wash over her. The sun shining, yet not seeming to cast hardly any warmth. Shaking her head, allowing her inky black hair to fall out of it's short braid; she let the wind catch it, letting it blow behind her in the breeze. Gradually, what light the sun had cast vanished, and opening her eyes, she saw the sky was now dark and cloudy. But she knew she had time before it would rain, but not caring whether or not if did. She would sit there until she knew the sun was setting, and only then would she walk home. Waiting, in the chilling spray, she felt a large gust of wind kick up, startled at the abrupt arrival of such a gale. The sky was now nearly black, a small streak of sunlight was now visible between the clouds, but an eerie greenness to it. Standing up quickly, she began walking to the end of the pier, then breaking into a run as rain began falling torrents, and the waves began kicking up and washing over the dock. But on a last glance back, she lost her breath.
In the tossing waves, a ship. The sail was flapping wildly, the paint on the sides peeled off and faded, but she knew that ship. A tall masted sloop, the sail faded an patched, the hull nearly void of color. But it was her ship. Racing back down to the end of the pier, the waves were now crashing nearly up to the pier's railing. But as she reached the end of the pier, the ship was coming in closer and closer, and a voice was coming over the water.
"Ahoy!"
Grappling with a now soaking rope on the pier, as the ship came in, she tossed it as hard as she could, and a dark skinned man caught the end, neatly tying it to the side of the sloop. Gradually, against the raging water, the faded little ship came in. The girl hanging on with all her might to one of the posts against the raging wind and water. But finally, with a nasty crunch against the pier, and a quick leap; the girl was presently joined by someone, and before she could even let go of the pier to turn around, the man had scooped her up and was jogging down the pier. Reaching the end, and hopping down onto the sand, running only a short ways to a small store not far from the water front.
Nearly as quickly as he had picked her up, she was set down again, but was brought into a breathtaking bear hug.
She shivered as the wind still was blowing wildly around them, but as the steady hand was now stroking her hair, she felt safe. Finally, released from the embrace, she looked up bleary eyed at the tall man, the same black hair as hers, and the same blue eyes. But much darker skin.
"My little starfish." He said, his voice carrying a resounding hum, which was a voice she hadn't heard in the longest time.
All she could do was smile. But she felt something inside her, that seemed to move. Her voice was barely a whisper, but slightly musical. "I missed you."
Ta-da!
Not to bad for a first story. A bit longer then I intended.
So I hope you all had a good weekend, and I hope your week goes well for you!
-Mae
Walking along the pier, feeling the salt spray wash up, she shivered as chills ran up her arms. The pier. Always silent at this time of day, despite the wonderful weather they always seemed to have this time of year. Holding her hand above her eyes as she walked along, wishing she had brought a hat for the glaring sun. It seemed that no matter how brightly is shone, the sea always managed to catch the warmth with it's frigid sprays along the waterfront. But she didn't mind. Buttoning up her cardigan as the wind became harsher she reached the end of the dock, watching out over the water, her skirt flowing about her, she shivered again as another spray flew up from in front of her, this time nearly wetting her shoes entirely.
She lowered her hand slowly, squinting out over the water as she looked in vain for any sign of a tall masted sloop, which she knew deep down would have no chance of coming back. Every day, for a year, she had walked down that pier, looking now more out of habit than of hope, for the sight of a dashing red sloop with the yellow striped sail.
Walking back a ways, she dusted the sand off of a bench, closing her eyes and letting the sea spray and sounds wash over her. The sun shining, yet not seeming to cast hardly any warmth. Shaking her head, allowing her inky black hair to fall out of it's short braid; she let the wind catch it, letting it blow behind her in the breeze. Gradually, what light the sun had cast vanished, and opening her eyes, she saw the sky was now dark and cloudy. But she knew she had time before it would rain, but not caring whether or not if did. She would sit there until she knew the sun was setting, and only then would she walk home. Waiting, in the chilling spray, she felt a large gust of wind kick up, startled at the abrupt arrival of such a gale. The sky was now nearly black, a small streak of sunlight was now visible between the clouds, but an eerie greenness to it. Standing up quickly, she began walking to the end of the pier, then breaking into a run as rain began falling torrents, and the waves began kicking up and washing over the dock. But on a last glance back, she lost her breath.
In the tossing waves, a ship. The sail was flapping wildly, the paint on the sides peeled off and faded, but she knew that ship. A tall masted sloop, the sail faded an patched, the hull nearly void of color. But it was her ship. Racing back down to the end of the pier, the waves were now crashing nearly up to the pier's railing. But as she reached the end of the pier, the ship was coming in closer and closer, and a voice was coming over the water.
"Ahoy!"
Grappling with a now soaking rope on the pier, as the ship came in, she tossed it as hard as she could, and a dark skinned man caught the end, neatly tying it to the side of the sloop. Gradually, against the raging water, the faded little ship came in. The girl hanging on with all her might to one of the posts against the raging wind and water. But finally, with a nasty crunch against the pier, and a quick leap; the girl was presently joined by someone, and before she could even let go of the pier to turn around, the man had scooped her up and was jogging down the pier. Reaching the end, and hopping down onto the sand, running only a short ways to a small store not far from the water front.
Nearly as quickly as he had picked her up, she was set down again, but was brought into a breathtaking bear hug.
She shivered as the wind still was blowing wildly around them, but as the steady hand was now stroking her hair, she felt safe. Finally, released from the embrace, she looked up bleary eyed at the tall man, the same black hair as hers, and the same blue eyes. But much darker skin.
"My little starfish." He said, his voice carrying a resounding hum, which was a voice she hadn't heard in the longest time.
All she could do was smile. But she felt something inside her, that seemed to move. Her voice was barely a whisper, but slightly musical. "I missed you."
Ta-da!
Not to bad for a first story. A bit longer then I intended.
So I hope you all had a good weekend, and I hope your week goes well for you!
-Mae
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