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.
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