Ethan's Ferry Trip (children's story) by Leanne Dyck

 Ethan’s Ferry Trip introduces children to the joys of travelling by ferry.

 photo by ldyck

Ethan’s Ferry Trip

Mom drove our car onto the big boat. She called it a ferry. We climbed stairs up to a room full of people, but I didn’t know anyone. I sat right beside a window and felt the ferry move.

Mom said, “We’re sailing away.”

I waved goodbye to the trucks, cars and buildings.

The ocean stretched on and on and on.

A man I couldn’t see said, “Look outside”—or something. His words crackled from a box over our heads.

"That was the Captain," Mom explained, “He sails the ferry and wants us to look over there.” She pointed out the window. “Whales!”

Everyone crowded around our bench. They all talked about the whales. But all I could see was water shooting into the air.

A girl with red hair said, “My name’s Salal. Want to play?”

We played cat and dog. Salal crawled around saying, “Meow.” I crawled after her, saying, “Woof. Woof. Woof.” And we played hide-and-seek. Salal was so good at hiding that I needed Mom’s help. We found Salal under her mom’s bench.

My mom and Salal’s mom talked and talked and talked. Salal shared her books with me. I liked the one about the big trucks.

The ferry went thud.

"Mom, what was that?" I asked.

"Don't worry," she said, "The ferry docked. It’s time to get off.”

Mom helped me put my jacket back on. I helped Mom collect our stuff. We had toys for me, a book for Mom, a purse for Mom and a backpack for me.

Mom had to open the heavy door because I couldn't push it. Then, there were the stairs. I held onto the handrail and carefully climbed down. One step, two steps, three, all the way to the cars and trucks. Our car was hiding, so we had to look really hard to find it.

We climbed into the car and buckled our seat belts. Mom followed two trucks off the ferry and down the ramp.

I looked out the back window and waved goodbye. “Thank you, ferry,” I said. “Mom, that was really fun. I want to do it again.”

She smiled at me. “We will,” she said.

photo by ldyck

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Thank You BC Ferries from Leanne Dyck, Mayne Islander

BC Ferries deserves my praise. Here’s what happened…

I left the island early on Saturday at 7:05 AM. I had a full day of writing fun at the Crime Writers of Canada writers' event. At the end of the day, my husband and I stopped at our favourite fish n’ chip shop and then headed for the ferry. We climbed out of the truck, our take-out food in tow—we planned to eat at the BC Ferries café. My head throbbed with information and inspiration. I set my purse down on the windowsill beside my seat. You can probably guess what happened—it remained there as I boarded the ferry. As the ramp rose and the ferry prepared to depart, I felt more than thought that something was missing. “Where’s my purse?”

“I don’t know? Where did you leave it?” my husband exhaled.

Slowly I realized. “At…the…café.” What do I do now? How do I get it back? I scanned the ferry—looking for assistance.

“I have a problem,” I said, wringing my hands.

They listened, delayed the ferry, searched the spot I directed them to, and retrieved my purse. As the BC ferry van neared the ferry, I saw my purse dangling out the window—clutched firmly in the hand of the BC ferry worker.

“How could you lose something this big?” the BC ferries worker asked, handing it to me--and also offering a smile.

#photos: on the ferry

I continue to wheel my camera with abandon. Recently, my camera and I were on one of the BC ferries' smallest--the Mayne Queen.

I was heading home after a fun day off island. Where had I been? What did I do?
Ah, my friend, all will be revealed on Monday.
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Next post:  Please welcome Author Mary Sharratt