A Tale From The Sea

A Tale From The Sea

Karla Clinch

It was almost noon, when I first saw her. A thing of Beauty and intrigue, she was…. her lines smooth, her colors true. Though she looked a bit green around the gills, she was made of stronger meat, and would do well in the open seas, if she was treated with the kindness and gentleness that she deserved, yes, even desired.
I knew that I had to have her, regardless of the cost. As I set about looking for the Lady Ann’s owner, I wondered how much he would want for her, not really having a dime to my name. But, I knew I would have to her…regardless of the cost.
I stopped by the local tavern, hoping to glean some information as to who was her owner. I meandered up to the bar, as if I had not a care in the world, thought my troubles were many.
I asked the bartender for a beer, and settled onto my stool.
“Tell me, you wouldn’t by any chance know who owns that old sloop in the harbor, would you? The Lady Ann?”
“Nah, but might ask the guy over by the door. He’s been on this island for many many years, and he might know.” He responded with a wry grin, “though, were it me, I would take some fortification with you.”
“What’s he drinking? Give me one and another beer.” I replied.
As I glanced over by the door, I saw a fellow who looked to be a century and a half in age. Lean and lithe, gray hair down to his shoulders, and a grizzled beard, looking like 10 miles of really poorly paved road, I knew I had my hands full.
“Sir,” I started to say…
“Yeah, and what the hell do you want?” Came the surly reply.
I knew instantly, that this would be a hard nut to crack.
“I was wondering if you might know who owned the Lady Ann, the sloop that’s moored in the cove, to the north end of the island.” I asked.
“What’s it to you?”
“Well, sir, I do believe that she might be the most beautiful boat that I have ever seen in my life. And while I am not the best sailor around, I would love the opportunity to purchase her, and make her as beautiful as she must have been 40-50 years ago.”
“Aye,” He sighed, “That she was. But sonny, let me tell you, you don’t have enough money in the world to buy her. Let me tell you the story of the Lady Ann.”
I leaned forward in my seat, not wanting to miss a single thing that he said.
As he looked off into the distance he seemed to mellow considerably. It was with great melancholy that he started his tale.
“She was built in the late 30’s, before the war. She was commissioned to the government as a guardian of the shore. Finished her commission and was returned to her owner in May of 1945. She had some dents and dings, but there was nothing about her that could not be repaired. Her owner, however, was killed in a freak accident, when he was struck in the back of the head by the boom. He never came out of the coma, and died a week later.”
”His widow sold the Lady to a newly we couple. There were about 25 yrs old at the time, and as fate would have it the woman’s name was Ann. They were madly in love and looking forward to many trips and journeys aboard their new toy.”