The Ship (standard:travel stories, 1231 words)
Author: Brent Belchamber	Added: Nov 17 2002	Views/Reads: 3966/2468	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
The humorous adventures of a little boy on a world tour by ocean liner.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

I made my way down quiet hallways to a bathroom, where I could
asphyxiate without bothering anyone.  But it was getting worse. Having 
been to my parent's cabin once before, I decided to go in that 
direction. 

Exactly how I managed it is unknown to me but I found them.  I couldn't
breathe.  My throat was closing fast.  The ships Doctor would have to 
be called. 

In only a few minutes two armed men, entirely in white, showed up.  Even
their pistols were white.  They needed to confirm the emergency before 
they would wake the Doctor. 

As I happened to be near dead, gasping for breath, it worked like a
charm. 

In only a few more minutes the Doctor was injecting me with something
that saved my life.  Later, I would learn that the invisible hunter was 
pollen but in the mean time, I was with Mom and Dad. 

First class was excellent.  I was invited to the bridge.  The Captain
even asked me to take the wheel.  I steered that ocean liner like I 
owned it.  Nobly, I created a giant, gentle “S”.  Not exactly the 
straight line the Captain had asked of me.  When I was dismissed, it 
was done as if I had authority. 

My story was all over the ship in no time.  So much so, that it came
back to the Captain who had to arrange a tour of the bridge for 
everyone. 

Of course, first class was first and I was there, with Mom and Dad.  It
was my pleasure to show everyone how to pilot an ocean liner.  I 
created a very lean, giant “S”.  When I was dismissed, it was done as 
if something was uncomfortable. 

And again, with my brothers, when it was the tourist class's turn.  I
was there to show everyone my beautiful “S”.  Afterward, the Captain 
asked me to wait, while he dismissed the others.  He then made a 
serious inquiry into my legitimacy for even being on board.  He asked 
me to never come to the bridge again.  When I was dismissed, it was 
done as if I wasn't even alive. 

Later in the day, another little boy around my age, stood in my way.  He
accused me of being related to my little brother who had called his 
brother a girl.  Before I could say a word, he reached out and ripped 
all the buttons off of my favorite shirt.  Before those buttons came to 
rest, he was gone.  Scott denied calling anyone a girl. 

Two days later, Scott and I were about to take the elevator when the
doors opened and that little boy was standing right there.  Somehow, I 
knew that I didn't have to but I punched him in the stomach and the 
doors closed.  Scott and I used the stairs.  We never saw that little 
boy again. 

And we were many days on that ocean. 

One day, off the coast of West Africa, there were no waves.  You could
not distinguish  between sky and water for as far as the eye could see 
on the clearest of sunny days.  It was enchanting. 

For years ever afterwards, I would be asked my age and I'd say “Eleven”.
 They'd laugh and grow old quickly.  But when it came time to get a 
personal pizza for people age 14 and under, I was there to collect, 
though I was over 40.  And because of it, I would be infamous to every 
manager who took the position at that special restaurant until the day 
it closed.


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