The sun is setting making the sky red orange and yellow all at once… dreamy and beautiful. Soon the moon will take over the sky, just like the Nationalists did in Spain after the war.
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| Neil |
Things change. Things change all the time. It has been more than a year since I left the shoe warehouse, my mother and my dear sister Laura. Work at the merchant marine has been good. I work as an oiler. It gets dirty but there is an upside. I get to explore different places. My life is an adventure; just like I wanted it, just the way I saw it in the movies.
Few weeks ago, when I we were sailing as per usual, we spotted a pirate ship. Everyone was scared and we all panicked. We were all terrified but our captain was calm. His name is Neil. He gave us quick orders and we sailed away from the pirates unhurt.
Neil and I stick together. He also wants to explore the world and have adventures. Neil is a good man. He is not like other captains who are not friendly to their crew. He is the only person I have showed my poems to at the marine and he is always excited to read them.
One day he came to me with the local newspaper and told me to read it. Puzzled I scanned it to see why he was so excited. Then I saw it. My poem, Life, was there printed on the side with my name at the end. I was baffled. He had obviously stolen it and taken it to the press. I did not know what to say. Would the people like it? Would they even read it? But he should have asked me first! I was very angry with him but I did not say anything. I did not see him the next few days.
A week later, he came to me with another newspaper. I was afraid he had done it again but when I went through it, I saw that people had commented on the poem I wrote. Mrs Murray had said that the poem touched her and she could relate to it. Mr Fernandez liked it and was happy to know that people still care. I was amazed! Another reader asked for more poems! Neil looked at me and said I should open up and show the world I have talent. No one had ever appreciated me like this before. That night, beer was on me. I was very happy.
Since then, I have sent one poem every two weeks to the press and I earn extra money. I have always enjoyed literature and I love writing poetry. Back at home, mother never approved of this. She yelled and nagged all the time. That is what made me run away from home. I wonder how she is now.
Poor Laura, I had left her in a mess. I do not feel bad about leaving mother but I am guilty for leaving Laura. I remember knocking down some of her precious glass ornaments when I was angry. She loved her glass menagerie. She did not value anything as much as she did the menagerie but she did not complain. She never complained. She would just sit in a corner listening to old music. She was strange but loving.
Did she get a gentleman caller? Is she still living in the dark the way I left her? I knew I could not escape from the coffin without hurting the nails... especially if it is made of glass. But maybe she works somewhere now. She will learn to live for herself. She has to. Maybe I should go and check up on her. See how she is doing and maybe leave her some money in the house.
Like I said, things change. Things change all the time. I will just hope it was for the better.
The sun is gone now and the stars adorn the sky. The moon still has to rise. I have to go now. Maybe for the next blog, I will post one of my poems.
Bye.
