Joaquin - Follow your heart

A young sailor learns one of life's lessons

"Hard about, Jocko! Into the wind!"

Joaquin pulled fiercely on the wheel, steering the little barque starboard into the wind.

"Put yer BACK into it, matey!" The Skipper came up beside Joaquin and grabbed the other side of the wheel. Together, the two of them turned the wheel over and held the little barque into the wind. The San Cristof rode the massive waves of the gale like a cowboy riding an untamed horse.

"Don't let 'er get the best of ya, Jocko. Ride 'er out - she'll tire soon enough!"

"Aye, skipper!"

"Ye' got a good grip? Can ye' hold 'er now?"

"I got her, Captain."

"Don't let 'er broach the beam, or we'll go under in a hurry."

Joaquin looked out over the gunwales, eyes wide. "Aye, Captain".

"Good, matey. Yer doin' fine!"

The San Christof bucked and moaned and creaked and crashed for a couple hours. The Captain took a turn or two at the wheel, giving Joaquin a break to loosen cramped muscles.

The gale finally yielded and left the barque adrift in the sea. Night had fallen.

"So, Joaquin. D'ye know where we be?"

Joaquin, who had only recently started shipmaster training, panicked. The skipper laughed, evidently the panic showed on Joaquin face.

"The Northern Star will always bring ye' home. Follow yer heart, my young friend, keep that star off yer port bow, and in good time she will carry ye' and yer crew across the ocean to safe harbor."

w/c 245

Daily Flash Fiction Challenge  (13+) Enter your story of 300 words or less. #896794 by Arakun the Scary Raccoon

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Follow your heart
Rated: E · Fiction · Action/Adventure · #2241015
A lesson at sea
Intro Rated: E
Size: 1.88 KB · 35 views
Created: January 2nd, 2021 at 2:01pm
Modified: January 2nd, 2021 at 4:49pm
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Location: My Portfolio
Genres: Action/Adventure, Contest Entry, Other
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