Salty Wheels

“Oh, come on Stella, it’ll be so fun! You hardly ever leave the house! "Julia playfully cajoled.

Stella paused for a moment and signed as she held the phone to her ear. Julia and her crazy adventurous ideas. She wondered how they even ended up being friends. Nowadays they were complete opposites. Stella likened herself to a quiet mouse, nestled among a cozy nook, content and hidden from the outside world. Julia on the other hand, was a restless and rowdy monkey swinging out from one limb to another.

“Stella you, there?” Julia questioned.

“Oh yes... Um....” Stella hesitated.

“Well?!” Julia stated.

“Sure, I’ll come” Stella stated half enthusiastically.

“Awesome, pick you up around nine thirty, ciao!” Julia gleefully exclaimed.

The phone line abruptly disconnected.

Stella wished she hadn’t agreed, but Julia had a crafty way of convincing people to give in to her demands. Saying no seemed out of the question. Sometimes she envied Julia’s brazen bubbly personality and courageous spirit that still held strong despite the accident.

The clock hour hand hit nine on Stella’s Timex watch with a beep. Julia would be here in about thirty minutes! That didn’t give her much time to get ready. She preferred a Saturday morning of contemplative prayer; fine English tea coupled with a hearty breakfast amongst the plethora of plants that were strewn about the cottage themed kitchen. Stella wheeled herself to the snack cabinet and grabbed two multigrain bars and prepared a quick cup of tea.

After scarfing down her meager breakfast, Stella maneuvered herself down the hall, in and out of rooms to pack for the trip. She paused catching her breath, winded from last minute preparations. She despised being rushed as it made everything feel more stressful, chaotic and cumbersome.

As she perused her bag and mentally check listed off the items, a car honked outside. Then after a few seconds a rap sounded on the front door.

“Come in, it’s open!” Stella announced.

Julia plodded in all decked out in beach themed attire.

“Hey boo, so good to see you!” Julia remarked.

“You too!” Stella replied.

Julia bent down and gave Stella a warm bear hug embrace.

“You all set, got everything you need?” Julia stated.

“Yep, bag is all packed, extra sunscreen, water, towels” Stella replied.

“Perfect, I’ll take the beach bag while you lock up. Eeeek, I’m so excited!”

Stella chuckled as Julia clambered out the door like a graceful goose. She took a quick glance at the corridor mirror. Blue eyes gazed back at her along with a hopeful and serene expression. Today would be a fun relaxing day on the beach.

“This isn’t what I signed up for!” Stella griped.

“I know, but I knew you would say no, so I had to think of way to get you out on the water again. I got tickets and everything!” Julia admitted.

“You know how I feel about being on a boat -”

"Don't you think I know that. We both went through the accident”.

Their brown and blonde heads of hair ruffled in the warm and gusty sea breeze. Seagulls cried out overhead as the two women faced each other on the pier.

Julia added, “This is different. Whale watching Stella, nothing too crazy or high speed. It’s totally safe.”

“Julia... I’d appreciate -”

“Stell, you can’t keep holding back, you have to let go of the fear. You can’t stay cooped up forever!”

“Easy for you to say, you didn’t become a cripple” Stella snapped.

Julia frowned and pursed her lips. Stella sighed and took a long pause. She could tell Julia was stung by her harshness and self-pity.

“Juls, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come off like that. It’s just so hard for me to be who I once was after the boating crash and all.”

“No, I’m sorry for pushing you too much – I wanted to get you out of your shell you’ve been in for so long. I still see the same best friend who had so much zest for life and adventure."

An announcement rang across the pier calling for whale watchers to start boarding for the eleven o’clock departure. Stella took a long glance down the pier to where the whale watching boat was docked. Her heart stirred but her gut twisted into knots. The two friends met eyes again and a glimmer of hope and anticipation shined in Juls’ eyes.

Julia smirked and pulled out the tickets waving them before Stella.

“So.... still up for the whales?”

“Oh, alright let’s get it over with!”

Julia excitedly squealed and raced Stella’s wheelchair down the rickety pier platform. Stella clutched her chair hoping she wouldn’t end up on a collision course before boarding the boat.

A misty splash of seawater brushed Stella’s face as she cautiously peered over the guardrail entranced by the white foamy waves lapping up against the hull. Suddenly, a dark shape began to take form and appear from beneath the surface of the water.

“Oh look!” Stella exclaimed to Julia.

Everyone on the boat leaned over the railings and fixated on the dark mass breaching the water. A barnacle encrusted fin popped out and a large eyeball glanced back at the spectators. Stella felt as if the whale was looking right into the depth of her heart, communicating the mystery and awe of life.

As soon as the creature had appeared, it vanished back into the depths. The boat then teetered for a few minutes while a brief lecture was given on the sighting.

In a split instant, a mass of water churned nearby, and the humpback whale leaped out, twisting its massive body in a display of magnificent grandeur before sending a gush of seawater on board. Stella and Julia became completely drenched. Cheering and excitement ensued. They both laughed and hugged each other. For the first time in what seemed like ages ago, Stella felt a familiar spark of life rush back into her soul, igniting her spirit with a desire to press on into an adventurous future.