The Wave

The sky was seething with sapphire, swarming clouds enveloping the sailing boat. With a sudden jolt, Boy grabbed the ropes. Swimming frantically around the boat, Whale was gracefully dashing out in the air. They all waited for Great Wave to come again. 

"This one is quite fierce," said Boy. 

"I am taking care of it so you can pull the ropes," answered Whale.

"Oh, I knew I could count on you!"

"I am here, always. Just in time," she added with warmth in her voice. 

Inside the boat, climbing down a steep, narrow stairway that was creaking, squeaking, and wailing with every toss and turn of the ship, a feeble whistle persisted. 

"I am definitely not coming out this time!" cried Duck, from inside a wooden chest. Her tiny heart beat as precise as clockwork, swiftly and steadily. An unexpected bounce pushed her onto the top of the chest. As she lost her orientation and felt as if in a whirlpool, she heard the boy's voice:

"I will come for you; don't you worry."

Loud footsteps were coming closer and closer until the door of the chest was lifted. Boy's face lit up while reassuringly reaching for Duck. He held her up, slowly cupping his small palms on her tiny golden wings. 

"There you are. Running away again?" 

"You know me, I get the goosebumps every single time." Duck moaned while she curled in a ball of silky feathers.

"And you're only a little duck," Boy replied. 

“The big wave always impresses me,” she went on.

“Well, it’s meant to do that; otherwise, we wouldn’t see,” concluded Boy.

As they were up on the deck, Whale was majestically holding the big wave for them in anticipation.

While they were cloaked in the enchantment of the experience, Dog pulled the ropes. He was swapping the various sails, wondering if it was real and if they would see it again. Ripples and clashes played loudly when Dog manipulated and negotiated the fluttering, fighting sails, which were magically aiming high in the creaking blue. Holding on to the whisker pole, he was finally able to enjoy it at the same time with Boy and Duck.

“It is a feast for one’s imagination. Indeed, it is.”

As big as the boat, like a feather randomly swirled by the wind, Whale tossed her cosmic body.

“It’s not as impossible as it looks; that I can assure you,” she whispered to her companions, who didn’t even know they heard her.

“We all did it. Look!” she said.

“Easy for her to say,” muttered Duck, barely holding on to Boy.

“It’s all right, I am holding you, and remember to open your eyes when it’s here. We are all part of it, you know that,” he spoke confidently.

As soon as the wave splashed onto the boat and Whale twisted alongside, they were all watching it again for the first time: it was slowly rising up. “It was all worth it,” they said in unison.