Star Struck

The name is Henry Jonas: I'm 10 years old and I just happen to be the star in this tale of great adventure. Honestly, it's gonna be fun, so stick around the bay for a while and you won't regret it.

My thrilling tale begins on just any other day in this boring life of mine, in this humdrum port town called: "Moby's Bay." I spend most of my time banging my head against the docks waiting for something exciting to happen, and to be honest, nothing ever does. When I'm not doing that, I'm helping my grandma around the house with chores like gutting fish and scraping barnacles from her cooking pans.

Which for some reason, she leaves hanging in the ocean by a fishing line. According to her, it "flavors" the pan and adds a little extra kick to her cooking. Man, I only wish I had the heart to tell her that no amount of seawater can fix the disasters she creates in that kitchen.

Yeesh, just thinking about dinner gives me chills. All that aside, I can't really be mad at her; she was the only family who would take me after my mom died 7 years ago. I never knew my dad, but my grandma tells me many stories about him. She seems really proud of her son, but I notice this sadness in her eyes when she talks about him, so I never really bring him up. It seems like losing him left quite a big scar on her heart.

It's easy to overlook her nonsense considering she's a sweet old lady; though I wish I could say the same for this strange old man I'm supposed to call grandpa. This guy is an absolute scourge from the sea, which he's constantly on, and frankly smells worse than it does. He usually goes fishing in the reef first thing in the morning for about 30 minutes or so, yet he still comes back smelling like dead whale guts.

Not only that but when he does return, he drags me back with him. The man is the biggest mystery on these docks, and we live next door to a guy with hooks for his big toes and thumbs. Lord knows how he managed to lose all those parts, but if you ask me, I bet he just did it to himself out of boredom.

This port could turn any sane man crazy within seconds. Honestly, if days keep going by like this, I might start cutting off my toes and thumbs too. That might get the old adrenaline going; if I still have any that is.

After trying my best to avoid him; my grandpa somehow managed to get me on his smelly boat, even though I wrapped both my arms and legs around one of the doc posts. One would think that it would be enough.

Unfortunately, this old fart is some kind of monster. He just ripped me right off the doc post like it was nothing. Now I'm stuck on this boat for 5 hours until he decides to take me back. Life isn't fair! Why do I have to be here on the worst boat in the world? "The S.S Caracas", stuck with the smelliest guy on the planet.

Look, I know it might sound like all I do is complain and wine like a brat, but you're not in my position so don't judge me. I mean, I can't even try and make conversation with the old man. He doesn't even talk; he just sits there with this intense glare at the water.

Actually, come to think of it, I don't think I've ever heard him talk. Wait a minute, I've known this guy since I was 2 years old, so how in the world have I never heard him speak? Maybe this horrible smell is giving me a concussion; that or my brain is just too bored to retain any memories.

It's already been an hour on this boat and I really gotta pee. My pee bubble is really about to pop any second now. Alright that's it, I can't hold it anymore I gotta ask the old man where the bathroom is on this thing. I looked over at him with the most intense stare I could muster, and it looked like he caught the message and held me overboard.

My first thoughts were: "that is disgusting grandpa", but my grace period was about to be up, so I just let the old leaker loose. MAN! that was the most satisfying pee I've had in a while, it felt like heaven.

Eventually the sun went down, and my nostrils are now once again broken from my grandpa's rancid smell. Well, it's not all bad. At least the stars are out tonight, I guess I can't complain about everything.

It looks like grandpa fell asleep, seems like even ogres have to sleep. Hm, the stars are beautiful tonight, one of them looks like it's kind of getting closer. It looks kind of green too. This lack of fun must finally be getting to my head and destroying my brain somehow.

That or this terrible smell is melting my brain cells. A young growing boy my age should be having fun, not sitting on a boat hallucinating! Still that star does look wonky, maybe I'm not seeing things. It seems to be getting smaller by the second.

I can't even see it anymore, where did it go?......AHHH!! MY EYE!!!! What the?.....the pain is gone. What was that? Ohh my head feels funny. It's like it's being mixed in a bowl of soft chum. My eyes are going blurry, am.....I...about to .... pass....out.........?