The Old Sea Dog and the Little Bird

"I'm sorry," the first mate suddenly stood from his table. "I think I want to take a walk."

They were in a island ever different from the ones they usual docked. They were there to stay for a bit longer than the rest of the place they have visited. It was a task for the first mate, an old sea dog to be away from the sea that he calls home. The rest of the crew didn't bothered about it but a few. One of them was the captain. But she was too busy with other task that she couldn't be with the first mate for most of the time.

For the first time, she didn't bothered with the first mate or rather of one of her crew. For the first time, first mate was alone as he walked on foreign land. Or so he thought.

"Sir, would you mind if I go with you?" the man of the sky stood and went with him. "There was something I'd like to talk to you."

"Oh! Good, little bird," the first mate said. "I guess I won't be alone I thought I'd be. Come on."

The two went out to the street of the foreign land. It was well paved and most of the houses were sturdier and built of stone. They are in a world more advanced than the places they've been.

"The sky here is dark than I thought it would be," the first mate said. "The sea as well is more quiet compared or rather more distant. Even though I could easily smell the salt. Are we really near the ocean, little bird?"

The sea side town was alive that night as well the night before and so on. It's a town full of life and seemed to have left sleep goodbye a long time ago. It was a busy place. The day seemed to have never ended.

"Sort of," the man of the sky said. "It's unlike this when we're out in the sea."

"There is no calm here," the first mate said.

"I guess, we're on a booming town. I heard that this place is a center for trades along this route. It's a given this place would know no rest," the man of the sky said. "Isn't that right, sir?"

The first mate nodded. He made sure his awareness as well his sadness can come across. The two continued walking a dark path. The houses were shut and the clouds fewer. The sky have finally showed it's face.

"Does it bother you, sir?" the man of the sky said.

"I guess so," the first mate said. "Are you not?"

"Look, sir," the man of the sky pointed up. "The moon it's here."

"So we have to go far as the outskirts of the town to even see it," the first mate sighed. He was disappointed. "I can no longer smell the ocean but at least the sky here is more beautiful."

"Do you hate towns like this, sir?" the man of the sky suddenly said. It was out of place for him to say so but he himself was surprised to utter it.

"Maybe," the first mate said. "But there's nothing I can do about it. I wanted to stay near where I truly belong. I'm an old sea dog as you can see. And to be away from where home is, is quite a burden."

"Is that why we heard rumors you wanted to stay on board the ship for the reminder of the stay here."

The first mate smiled.

"Maybe," he said. "But then again, I won't be seeing another picture of this world we live in. By the way, have you reflected upon why I asked to stationed on another place?"

"I think I'm still realizing it, sir," the man of the sky said. "But not yet clear to me."

"I have to extend your reassignment then?" the first mate asked.

"Yes, sir," the man of the sky said.

"Doesn't it feel like a burden?" the first man said.

"Sometime it does," the man of the sky said. "But if I reflect upon it. I think it isn't a burden anymore. There's something that I must see, something I must know but it must be from somewhere else. Not only on the place I'm used to."

The first mate heard the right answer. He placed his hand on his subordinates shoulder.

"Let's go back," the first mate said. "I think that's about enough time of your reassignment. I'll have to talk to the captain to put you back."

"What?" the man of the sky was surprised. "But I still don't get it, sir."

"I think that's about enough time of reconsideration," the first mate said. "It seems to me, you've found the answer. I just hope you could help me get there easily next time I climb up there though. Sometimes old sea dogs gets back pain when climbing up the mast."

The two walked back along the stone paved road basking under the silver lining the sky glisten them with the shy moon. The first mate wore a gentle smile as they continued.