Last day of May

14C haze and sun
Scotch pairs this am then off to Victoria for lunch at Son's of Norway.

I'll add some more of Mission Bound, but be forewarned, there will almost for sure be days when I don't add any of it as I have to invent the story as I go. Developing fiction is quite a different thing than writing fact.

. He returned a single wave that was perhaps more like a salute than a wave.

  The last few days had been tumultuous, at first when they got the word that they would be leaving the harbour that had been their home for the last few years, the whole family was excited. Then as the consequences of moving away settled in, John (that was his name) become sad and despondent, his sister Margaret followed suit although being four years younger her frame of mind fluctuated widely, from tears one moment to excited laughter the next. However his other two sisters, Jean his twin and Mary, Margaret’s twin showed little remorse and in fact constantly demonstrated their happiness in bubbly ways contrary to their usual natures. His mother was neither sad nor happy as far as he could tell but there was more spring in her step and she seemed more animated than usual. His father, well his father appeared to waver between the two extremes.

  They were the Pearce family, they had lived in the tiny community of Garden Bay for the past four years, the parents were medical missionaries and just three weeks earlier had received word that they would once more be assigned to a post in China.

  The boat rail that John was looking over was on one of the Union Steam Ships that plied the coast of British Columbia. They were on their way to Vancouver and then would go by train to Montreal and then take passage on a ship to England. Beyond that they had no idea what the timing or final destination point in China would be.

  The whole family stayed out on deck until the ship had cleared the harbor entrance and turned south. Then in spite of late summer sun, the south east breeze coupled with the speed of the vessel forced them inside to the shelter of the interior deck. There they all found seats, the three girls played at word games, Mrs. Pearce read her bible, Dr. Pearce studied a map of Canada and John after receiving a stern glare from his mother, pretended to read a book.

  The trip was uneventful, there were two seatings for dinner and the Pearce’s waited for the second one. About an hour after their dinner the ship passed under the Lion’s Gate Bridge and into Vancouver’s inner harbour.

  Having only hand luggage, the family trudged along the sidewalk the few blocks to their hotel. They had reserved two rooms for three nights as they had some business to attend to before they would board a train for the East.

   The next morning everyone was awake early, John was almost back to his usual self; teasing his sisters, asking questions and checking out all four levels of the hotel.

After breakfast in the hotel  dining room, Dr. Pearce announced that he needed to go to the Royal Bank of Canada to pick up a bank draft that should be waiting.

  Mrs. Pearce said “Please take John with you. He could use the exercise.”

  Dr. Pearce offered no argument as he was fully aware that the ‘please’ did not signify a request. The two male members of the family headed off together.