Seafaring Friends
Many years ago there were two adventurous and seafaring friends Lawrence Columbus and Horatio Seadog. When they were small they had always dreamed of living a life at sea and were determined to see the big wide world. After leaving school they managed to find a job on a cruise ship. They still felt they had some way to go in realising their dreams as they were working for Captain Chestnut who was a bit silly and incompetent and knew nothing about running a ship!
One day Lawrence and Horatio were busy as usual running the boat while the Captain snored under his sunshade. Suddenly there was a tug on the fishing line and Horatio discovered he had caught an enormous fish! He proudly called up to the Captain “Caught a whopper Cap’n, nobody will be going hungry tonight.” |
Captain Chestnut managed to summon up the energy to come and inspect the catch. He was delighted and exclaimed, “Good work Horatio, now Lawrence find me some land so we can buy some supplies to make a feast fit for a super captain like me!!!”
Lawrence carefully docked the boat and said, “Here we are Captain, ready to go ashore.” “Oh, good work Lawrence, I’m sure the coconuts on that small island will go very well with my fish.” “Er, no Sir, I actually meant this land,” Lawrence explained. “I can see a town in the distance, I’m sure there will be a good store where we can stock up on provisions.” “Oh, right yes of course, I knew that. Well off you go Lawrence and I will stay here to guard the boat and do other important captain things!” Meanwhile Horatio made a start on preparing and grilling his gigantic fish. While he was busy with his chores he spied an object bobbing about on the waves. With great curiosity he fished it out of the sea.
Down in the town Lawrence found a traditional village shop and walked in calling out “Ahoy there landlubbers!” His eyes immediately fell upon the most beautiful rabbit he had ever seen in his life and all thoughts of his errand were forgotten.
Doris was impressed by his tales of his daring life at sea, he may have exaggerated slightly to impress her!
Finally Adrianne had completed her shopping and was tugging Doris out the door. He couldn’t wait to get back to the cruiser and tell his best mate Horatio all about this special girl.
When Lawrence returned to the cruiser he was surprised to see Horatio sitting in the rowing boat ready to cast off. Horatio was equally amazed to see Lawrence dragging an enormous hamper. They both started to eagerly babble their news. “Lawrence you’ll never believe this, I have found an old treasure map and I’m off to find the treasure. Leave the Captain’s food and come and help me. This is the adventure we’ve been waiting for. All our dreams could finally come true.”
Horatio was surprised to see Lawrence hesitate, he’d expected him to jump straight in the boat. “Come on matey, what are you waiting for?” he cried. Lawrence started to explain. “I can’t.” “But it’s what we’ve always wanted, what do you mean you can’t?” Horatio asked, feeling completely puzzled. “I met this girl in the town and I promised to meet her here for a picnic. You go and tell me all about it later. I’m sure we’ll have another opportunity for an adventure together soon.” Lawrence said. Although a bit disappointed Horatio couldn’t wait to get started so began to row off with Lawrence waving and wishing him luck. He realised he had forgotten to bring a spade but being an inventive chap used one of his oars to dig below the palm tree.
With great excitement he saw the corner of a chest and had soon pulled it up onto the beach. With trembling paws he finally managed to lift the lid and was astonished to discover golden treasure.
He couldn’t wait to share his find with Lawrence. He had never had so much fun and couldn’t imagine going back to his dull routine on Captain Chestnut’s boat. He decided that life in a small boat on the open seas seeking adventure and treasure was the life for him and felt sure Lawrence would feel the same. Meanwhile back on land Lawrence was having a wonderful date with Doris. If it hadn’t been love at first sight in the shop it was certainly love at second sight here by the Lighthouse. They had a wonderful time laughing and talking. Lawrence loved her bubbly enthusiasm for life and he’d never enjoyed being with someone as much as he enjoyed being with her.
“You too me old mucker. I’ll name an island after you.” Horatio joked in an effort to lighten the mood as he clambered back down into the rowing boat. “Hang on there matey,” called Lawrence, turning back inside.
Lawrence watched as his friend grew smaller. “Promise me you’ll come back one day and tell me all about what’s out there,” he called.
He wasn’t sure if Horatio had heard as he lost sight of him over the horizon. It was not long before Lawrence and Doris were married and their adventures together began.
One day their son Tristan was up on deck with his dad’s binoculars when he spotted a crowded rowing boat in the distance. “Dad, I can see a small boat of sailors headed our way.”
“What creatures are they son?” Lawrence replied not daring to think it could be his old friend returning after all these years. “There’s a mouse, a duck, a beaver” called Tristan. Lawrence shook his head, feeling foolish for even thinking it could be him. “Oh hang on a sec. They’ve got a captain with them. Looks like a proper old seadog to me.” Not believing his ears, Lawrence rushed out to the bow to see for himself. Ordering his crew to row over, he leaped aboard and embraced his oldest and best friend with joy. Doris stood wiping away tears as she saw the much talked of Horatio with her husband. She knew how long he’d been waiting for this moment.
Introductions were made all round. Horatio was enchanted by the lovely rabbit who had captured his friend’s heart all those years ago and the Columbus children were thrilled to meet the hero of their father’s stories. The motley crew were equally delighted to meet their captain’s much talked of crew mate from the past.
|
After months of following the Captain’s poor navigation and therefore travelling in circles Lawrence was excited to be in a new place and was ready to explore. Maybe this is the start of something new he thought as he headed to the town.
To his astonishment he saw that it was a glass bottle and inside was some sort of parchment. Very carefully he slid the aged, yellowed document out and was amazed to realise it was a treasure map! With great excitement he studied the map and wondered if this could be the start of something new. He couldn’t wait for his best mate Lawrence to get back so he could tell him all about the map.
“Hello” she replied thinking she had never seen a more handsome rabbit. They took quick steps towards each other and were soon deep in conversation.
Lawrence was worried he would never see her again and quickly shouted out “My boat is moored up near the lighthouse, please meet me there this afternoon for a picnic.”
“I’ll be there, Lawrence.” Doris shouted back before Adrianne dragged her away so that she could ask her all about the handsome stranger in the shop! Lawrence had never packed a romantic picnic hamper before and enlisted the help of the shopkeeper to help him find the best food. Horatio pulled hard on the oars and was soon at the island shown on the map.
He couldn’t imagine going back to his dull routine on Captain Chestnut’s boat. He decided that settling down with Doris and setting up a small cruising business was the life for him and felt sure Horatio would feel the same.
Both Horatio and Lawrence hurried back, eager to share their plans for the future with their each other. “Horatio, I’ve had the most amazing idea. I’m done with life with Captain Chestnut. Let’s stay right here. I can marry Doris and we can set up our own cruising business. We can be joint captains and run things the way we want. What do you think?” Horatio’s face fell as he realised that for the first time since they were little, he and Lawrence had different dreams for the future. Glancing at his new found treasure, Horatio questioned whether he could give up his dream of life on the high seas to stay with his dearest friend. He knew in his heart that he couldn’t. Taking a deep breath, he turned to his friend and said, “Lawrence, I’m so pleased that you’ve found someone you want to settle down with and you’ll be a fabulous cruiser captain but that life is not for me. I can’t stay here. I’d get bored. I need to find my own adventure out on the sea and I need to go now before it gets too hard to say goodbye.” Lawrence’s heart sank and he thought for a second about persuading Horatio to change his mind but he knew Horatio was right. Life here would stifle his adventurous spirit. He had to let him go. Reaching out, he gave him a fierce hug. “Take care of yourself you old seadog.”
He quickly reappeared holding a neckerchief. “For you,” he said simply. Horatio nodded his thanks as he held back tears.
Once it was proudly round his neck, he heaved on the oars and pulled away. It was several hours later and Lawrence was pensively staring into the water, wondering if he’d made the right decision when he heard a familiar voice. Looking up, he saw Doris and knew he had. This was right where he needed to be. She was his future.
Many years passed and Lawrence and Doris’ dreams of having a family and owning their own seaside cruiser had come true but Lawrence still wondered what had become of his old friend Horatio and hoped he was well wherever he was.
There he was, his best friend safe and sound and with a crew of his own. “Ahoy there cap’n. Come aboard the Columbus Cruiser.” Horatio’s ears pricked up on hearing the name Columbus. He whipped round so quickly he nearly lost his footing and tumbled out of the boat. He couldn’t believe his eyes. There was Lawrence, his best friend safe and sound with a boat and family of his own.
It was the first of many such happy days spent together aboard the Columbus cruiser and although Horatio still took his crew out for short expeditions, he now always found his way back sooner rather than later.
The end. |