🛳Lucy and George

Lucy and George had dreamed of a quiet Thanksgiving, just the two of them, on a cozy cruise ship. It was their first time at sea, and the idea of a peaceful holiday, with no cooking or cleaning, was simply too tempting. They boarded the ship with excitement, their hearts light and their spirits high, ready to experience something new together.

As the sun set on the first evening of their voyage, the wind began to pick up. At first, it was a gentle swaying, something they could barely notice. But by the time the ship sailed into open waters, the waves were no longer whispers—they were roars. The dinner bell rang, but when Lucy and George made their way to the dining room, the ship tilted dramatically to one side. The floor felt like it was shifting beneath their feet, making it nearly impossible to walk in a straight line.

"Maybe we should wait," Lucy suggested, gripping George's arm as the ship rocked again.

But George, ever the optimist, smiled. "We’ve made it this far, we can handle a little bumping around, right?"

They made their way to the table, but the motion of the ship was relentless. Forks and glasses clinked, plates slid across tables, and the poor waiter was holding onto a pillar with both hands to stay upright. The other passengers were finding their seats in a kind of chaotic dance, their balance constantly thrown off by the waves.

"Are you sure this is the best idea?" Lucy asked, looking around at the commotion. "Maybe we should just go back to the cabin."

Before George could respond, a large wave crashed against the side of the ship, making the entire room tilt at a sharp angle. The elderly couple’s chairs slid away from the table, sending them both into fits of laughter, though it was a nervous, giddy kind of laugh.

"We're not going to eat like this, are we?" Lucy chuckled.

"No," George agreed, his glasses now sliding off his face. "Maybe we can have our Thanksgiving dinner in bed."

So, they did just that. With the help of the crew, they were able to bring their plates back to their cabin, where they reclined on the bed with the cozy warmth of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and all their other favorite sides in front of them. The ship rocked around them, but there was something comforting about it. The storm outside seemed far away in that little room, as they ate their meal with the kind of contentment only an elderly couple, long accustomed to weathering life’s storms together, could know.

By the time the last bite was eaten, the storm had passed, and the waters had calmed. The couple sat quietly for a moment, looking out the window at the starlit sky.

"Well," George said, reaching for Lucy's hand, "this wasn't the Thanksgiving we planned, but it’s one I’ll never forget."

Lucy smiled, her eyes twinkling. "I think I’ll remember it for all the right reasons."

And they both laughed again, as the waves gently rocked their little ship toward a new day.

Well I hope you enjoyed that short story and as always keep that smile smiling:)