One More Night

One More Night

A shorter story by Jay LeBorgne © 2014

The boy aloft in the crow’s nest calls out, “land ahead,” as the ship breaks from three days of fog.  The sun is long set–I can see the shoreline aglow from the beach fires welcoming this long weary crew.  None as weary as her First Officer, his last night at sea.  The last night with this smelly, fine, crackerjack crew.

The Captain sleeps while I dream.  I dream of Abigail, my love of near a quarter century.  My love for life and the reason for my existence.  She waits for one more night.  I am as elated as I am tired.

The crew ready.

“Helmsman, Right 10 Degrees Rudder,” I bellow though the wind does not warrant such a voice.

“Rudder 10 Degrees Right, Sir,” he responds sharply.

I am tired, too tired to continue anything but dream of the life that awaits me with my beloved Abigail.

“Chief, prepare sails for anchor.”

“Aye, sir,” he growls before he barks his orders to the seamen.

All I can see is her light ashen hair blowing in the breeze that I struggle to hear over the commands.  I stand erect just beside the wheel, the helmsman starts to whistle a bawdy tune.  My mind snaps to attention to avoid allowing the tune to defile the vision of my beloved Abigail.  Time has stopped for me but the sails are furled.

“She’s ready, Lieutenant,” the Chief almost whispers.

“Thank you, Chief.  All hands bring ship to anchor!”

She is ready.  “Let go!” I shout for the final time.

The anchor runs to coastal depth until it hits sand.  The ship slowly rests to drift.  Waters calm.

“Set the watch,” commands the Chief in his less-than-mellow tone.  “Crew to muster.”

Unexpectedly the men gather in a loose group in front of me.  The Chief speaks softly, “Sir, we would like to say how much we’ll be missin’ you as First Mate.  You’ve been a fair commander, Sir…well, we just wanted to let you know, Sir.”  The Chief was slightly teary-eyed.  He is a fine old sailor.

“Well, thank you, Chief.”  I attempt to choke back my emotions.  “I too, would like to extend my gratitude to each and every one of you men.  I’ve been at this a lifetime and you are the finest crew an officer could ever hope to have under his command.  Each of you made me the officer that I am.  Thank you.  And I mean every word.  It is one thing to be the leader of men but it also takes good men like yourselves for me to be that leader.  Carry on, Chief.  Good night, men.”

“Fair winds and following seas, Sir,” they respond in well-practiced unison.  They all depart to their places.  I cannot understand their mumblings.

After briefing the Captain and a farewell toast with him, I lay to my stateroom and make my final journal entry.

     Ships anchored awaiting morning tide.  All hands present and accounted for.  All is well.

     Lieutenant William Dunlop Smithson, First Officer, Sailing Ship Oak Leaf Cluster

     This the 5^th Day of June in the year of Our Lord, Eighteen Hundred Ninety-five

I doubt I will sleep soundly.  The ship turns toward the shore and again and through my portal I see the beach fires burning, lighting an otherwise dark land.  The stars are finally visible, the air crisp with a soft wind.

And Abigail’s ashen hair wisps across her face as she smiles brightly.  Her hazel eyes glimmer in the sunlight…

One more night.

 

Who is a military veteran?

Well, the simplest answer would be a person who was a member of a military armed forces.

We celebrate Memorial Day for the ones who gave their lives during their time of service, but Veteran’s Day is for those of us on this side of the grass…the ones who are still alive or those who finished their military service and lived.  I know, sounds a bit simplistic but that’s it, or is that it?

Do you ever wonder why someone would join the military?  Yes, we’re all not war mongers as a few would have you believe.  And a majority do not join the military to avoid jail, as some might think.  Well, some people enlist in the military for employment and benefits but again, I believe those numbers are fewer that we have been told.

This year for Veteran’s Day, do yourself a favor and talk to some veterans–grand parents, parents, relatives, they guy or gal down the street–I’m sure you can find one or two if you just look around the corner.  If you’re really curious, ask them why they joined; ask them what it meant for them to serve.  Some won’t want to talk about their time in service and at times, many of us don’t.  Just let them know that you’re not there to have them relive their experiences but you’d really like to know what is in the heart of a warrior–a soldier or sailor–someone who put most of their life (or a period of time) on hold so that the remainder of their country men and women, children of all ages, natural born and immigrants alike could go on with their daily lives free of the evils in the world that exists to take those freedoms away from each of them.

Ask them what drove them, in the beginning, to stand up for those beliefs, and why did/do they think it is so important for our country.  A dinner is nice and so many appreciate this time of thanks.  Keep in mind, most veterans would probably just like to have someone spend some time talking and sharing of yourself for a little while.  No, it’s not always easy but it isn’t hard, either.

Don’t be surprised if they tell you something along the lines of, “It was the right thing to do at the time.”

For me, I come from a family with a history of service in the armed forces.  My dad, me and my brother all served in the U.S. Navy; uncles served in the Army and Air Force; cousins in the Army, Navy and Marines, as well as, bothers-in-law.  And yes, it was the right thing to do for 23 years of my life.

In my world, it is strange to me when I meet someone who was not in the military but I meet many of these people almost daily.  Most are very appreciative of my service and tell me so…while a thankful few are not so nice but that’s their right to feel that way–I’ve been told that “You Can’t Legislate Attitudes.”

I personally say thank you to all of you who served and returned.  May the Lord grant you peace in your hearts and minds; and that He helps you know that what you did made a difference.

Jay  🙂