Bay a Honda came into view. They passed by the old metal railroad bridge, came to Big Pine Key and left the Atlantic behind as the Tight Schedule, Two Nichols and Holly Lynne slipped under the two bridges into Spanish Harbor.
Bill, Marcy and Zack took their boats up their canal to their houses and secured them.
Dennis eased the Holly Lynne over into his canal. It was a joyous return to her homeport. She had served her captain and crew well. By the time, Junior and Wesley had her tied up securely, the others were already over at Dennise's place.
Dennis eased the Holly Lynne over into his canal. It was a joyous return to her homeport. She had served her captain and crew well. By the time, Junior and Wesley had her tied up securely, the others were already over at Dennise's place.
Larry came out onto his porch, yelled and waved at them all. Bill yelled back at him, “Come on over Larry. We got something for you! And how is your hand?"
“I’ll be right over,” Larry quickly responded. "The hand is better."
Soon the whole band of treasure hunters were gathered together at Dennise's place on the Holly Lynne. The treasure was divied up. They weren't rich but they definitely had searched and found real, honest-to-goodness treasure. Seen smugglers, been captured, fought them off, heard pirates blow up a smugglers boat, had a hurricane party out on a key with a couple of new friends, Saw Old Tom the shark, some up closer than others, and ate good food all the while. And drank the best water ever, out on The Deep Blue Sea.
That night the ants were back down in the ground at home. That green gecko was anxiously awaiting the ripening of a green papaya in Bill and Marcy's front yard. The iguana was hunting across the street from the canal where the Tight Schedule and Two Nichols set secured back at their homeports. Mangos were growing on Zack's tree in his backyard and the ones that had been blown off had been gathered and given to some friends.
Not a few were destined for Arkansas. The corn snake was lazily laying in his lair a few houses away with a belly full of rat. Two crabs looked at the Tight Schedule and seemed confused, then faught over a piece of fish that had somehow been left there.
Out on The Deep Blue Sea Titus and Beth visited with their granddaughter who had come out to see about them after the hurricane and brought the things that had been ordered a month ago. She had only forgotten one thing, the wolf berries.
She ask Titus as they sat out on the front porch of the cabin, “Grandpa how can things change so fast just because of a chance meeting?" Then Titus knew it was the beginning of a new story he would never forget and it had to be written down for future generations.
Back on Big Pine Key, Wesley and Junior called home. Wesley set out back in the blue-ruffed gazebo and called on his cell phone. Junior stood out front watching the moon rise over Big Pine Key, its palm trees and pines as he talked.
They both were ripped for not getting out of the keys before Horatio hit them. Then were told how glad they were that they were okay. “It was just a little blow," Junior said. “I've seen worse wind up in Arkansas." And it was true. It just hadn’t been that hard that long, was the part he left out. Not to mention all that massive water movement. No mention of Old Tom either.
Finally they slept one last time in Bill and Marcy's guest bedroom with the large palm tree just outside the window toward the east. The next night they would spend in Key West, then head up to Sarasota to see a friend, Clifford, who was coming over from Ocala to meet them there for a short visit. A night spent near Port St. Joe, then on home to Arkansas. At least that was the plan.
The next morning came bright and early with only a few clouds here and there. Packing was completed and goodbyes said as pictures were taken. Bill and Marcy would be up in Arkansas soon themselves.
The drive out to Key West was a pretty one. The waters were still a little torn up from the hurricane. In spite of it all they continued to be those rich blues and inviting glassy greens with spots where white sand glowed through shallow water covering so many barely subsurface mini keys.
They would visit the southern most point again, then start their journey home from Mile Marker 0. So many things were being left undone but someday they hoped a return visit would come to be a reality truly happening to them again similar to this one they were still enjoying.
Key West was almost back to normal, for it, by the time Wesley and Junior got there. A few sandbags were seen near doors as they walked Duvall Street. They bought more cigars made by Cubans, ate more Cuban food at that Cafe, Bill and, Marcy had taken them to and just looked at all the unique architecture everywhere. Took a sailboat trip out on what was said to be the last large wooden sailboat built in Key West.
Sunset Key was easily recognized when Wesley and Junior stood near the waters edge for a good view westward.
They watched the sunset as a man walked a tight rope on Mallory Square.
Toured the aquarium and two museums. As they were walking toward their hotel a crowd gathered up ahead of them. As they came near to it they could hear a man playing a guitar and singing. Some people were dancing between parked cars. It was a fast song. Then he played a slow song called, Teardrops Upon the Strings. Money fell into his open guitar case. Change, ones, twos, fives, tens and even twenty’s. This guy was good and appreciated. He looked to be in his fifty’s. When that song ended he said. “I learned that song from the man I call my inspiration and mentor, up in Memphis. He used to sing it at the end of his sets. But I heard this last song I’m going to do, over in north central Arkansas at a little towns yearly festival. Decided I’d come down to the keys to see what I could find down here. It's called, Blue Sky Sailing.
Wesley and Junior looked at each other at the end of the third verse and whispered, “That sounds like Titus and Beth."
The song had a fourth verse and for them it confirmed that the song was about Titus and Beth.
The song had a fourth verse and for them it confirmed that the song was about Titus and Beth.
“What some know," Wesley said as he dropped a ten in the guitar case.
“And what some don't." Junior added as he dropped his ten in also.
They walked the rest of the way to their hotel room feeling very fortunate and blessed.
The end I think?
Here is the song Wesley and Junior heard in Key West that reminded them of, Titus and, Beth, and their home out on the Deep Blue Sea.
Blue Sky Sailing
He was a fresh water mountain man, from the Ozarks he had come.
Loved to eat that seafood, but never touched the rum.
Told some he’d come for the sunshine. Told some he’d come for the rain.
The locals said, “ He’s a loner.” Then said that he’s insane.
When he went blue-sky sailing. All alone he wanted to be.
Searching for an answer. Looking for the Key.
Seeking the place, they called, “ The Deep Blue Sea”,
Where the waters seem to flow, from there to eternity.
He bought an old thirty-foot sailing boat. Quickly passed every test.
Set sail early one morning, out upon his lonely quest.
Held a heading to the south, seeking The Deep Blue Sea.
He was looking for someone, who lived out on that Key.
So he went blue-sky sailing. All alone he wanted to be.
Searching for an answer. Looking for the Key.
Seeking the place, they called, “ The Deep Blue Sea”,
Where the waters seem to flow, from there to eternity.
He was seen in Key Largo. Then in Marathon.
Camped out on Bahia Honda, but sailed again at dawn.
Never made it to Key West. Showed up on Big Pine Key.
Was seen there with a lady. Was heard to say, “I’m free.”
Then they went blue-sky sailing. All alone they wanted to be.
He would ask the question. She controlled the Key.
Slipped out to the place, they called, “ The Deep Blue Sea”.
Where they would decide, what their future would be.
They docked again at Big Pine Key, two weeks later around noon.
Called for a preacher, to come over real soon.
Said they wanted to be married. Live together forever more.
In her home way out yonder, on that secluded shore.
Oh they went blue-sky sailing. All alone they wanted to be.
He had his answer. To her heart he held the Key.
Sailed out to her home, she called The Deep Blue Sea.
Where the fire of their love, would blaze on through eternity.
Where the fire of their love, would blaze on through eternity.
They went blue-sky sailing. They went blue-sky sailing. They went blue-sky sailing,
Out to The Deep Blue Sea.
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