Episode 15: The Sailor's Wife, The Ship Awakes, and other stories

Our third and final episode of maritime tales. Among some lighthearted shorts, we meet a sailor's wife, and then witness the birth of the ship that's we've heard so much about.

Music: Creepy — Bensound.com.

James: Here are some Totally Made Up Tales, brought to you by the magic of the internet.

Alternating: Jump over small hoops. It's better than going through them.

Sweeten your deal with honey. It will help you get sales.

Mixing your metaphors will lead you to water.

Walk a long way. You'll clear your mind and stretch your legs.

James: And now: The Sailor's Wife.

Alternating: Heather was the wife of a sailor who spent many months away at sea at a time. She survived on hope and her only consolation was her child, Phillip. He was the apple of her eye. Three years old and running around like a maniac. Just the spit of his father.

One day, Heather and Phillip were playing in the sand when Phillip saw a ship entering the harbour.

"That is my Daddy's ship," he cried.

"No," said Heather. "Your daddy is away for another six months."

"No," said Phillip. "That is my Daddy's ship," and he stamped his foot petulantly.

Heather caught him up in an embrace. "We'll go and look at it."

They walked to the harbour wall, Phillip squirming in anticipation.

"There he is!", he said, pointing to a man walking away from the ship.

"No," said Heather. "That man is too tall."

"There!" said Phillip, pointing at a different man.

"No," said Heather. "That man is too short."

"There!", said Phillip, pointing at a third man.

"Well," said Heather, "it is very similar to Roger. I wonder what he's doing back so soon."

They walked quickly to where the man was standing.

"Are you my husband?", asked Heather.

"Are you my Daddy?", asked Phillip.

"Are you my family?", asked the man, and they embraced.

"Why are you back so soon?" asked Heather.

"That is a long story," said Roger, "and one day, I will tell it to you."

"We met a disaster just as we were passing the Rock of Gibraltar. The Captain saw three figures floating above the deck and one pointed at him and let a fearsome cry. The second pointed at him and spoke words of dread. The third pointed at him and spoke nothing. The Captain locked himself in his cabin and refused to come out, insisting that we return home at once. The First Mate brought us around and navigated us safely home. I do not know when we shall sail again, but this is a terrible portent."

Heather held his hand and hoped that he would never go away again.

Phillip also held his father's hand.

The End.

Alternating: Attention to detail is a devil's errand, so allow yourself to be sloppy.

Muster Mister Custer, pester Lester. Faster, Pastor Caster! and foster Coster Gloucester.

"Splice the main brace," said Jeffrey, and proceeded to get drunk.

James: And now: The Ship Awakes.

Andrew: Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang went the hammers against the wood and the sound reverberated around the mighty shed of the shipyard.

James: They were putting the finishing touches on the latest ship to roll through the George & Brothers Shipyards, at Chatham.

Andrew: She was a truly beautiful vessel, destined for the merchant marine. Large, imposing, grandiose, sleek, missing only the final pieces of decking and the mast to be fixed and raised.

James: Spencer, the ship's architect was watching from one side, from the office, as the men swarmed over her.

Andrew: He turned, from watching the finishing touches being made, to the ship that he had been imagining for so long. Rolled up the plans on his desk, locked the office door, and headed off to meet the ship's new owner.

James: Over a pint in the Rope and Anchor, they toasted the successful completion of the ship's hull, and looked forward to her launch next week, to join the merchan