MYSTober 2024

31 vignettes based on single-word prompts. One story.

27. Stars

Julius leaned on the railing of the cruise ship, gazing out over the ocean. Most of the other passengers were panicking. After all, the ship had been off course and out of sight of land for four days now. They were well justified in their frustration.

Another passenger slammed his hand down on the railing near Julius. "So sick of this," he complained. "The Captain can't control which way we're going? What's he here for, decoration?" Then he turned towards Julius. "What do you think?"

Julius glanced at the man's red face, unsure whether it was from rage or the sun, and replied, "I don't think it's so bad."

"Not so bad? What about this is 'not so bad'?"

"What do you do for a living?"

"I'm an accountant for a Fortune 500 company."

"Then I'm guessing you spend all day every day stressed out in a high pressure environment, where every dollar and every second are critically important."

"Not all day, but more or less, yes."

"So isn't it nice, now, not having a schedule to keep, or responsibilities to uphold? We just exist out here, with nothing to do but relax – if we so choose – and to take in the peace of the ocean. When's the last time you saw the stars as clearly as you can out here?"

The man scoffed. "You can keep your relaxing, I came on this cruise for one reason and one reason only – to bang chicks in as many port towns as possible. It's kind of hard to do that when we're not stopping in any of them!"

"Well... I suppose our priorities are different, then."

"Speaking of stars, though, you know who we have on board with us? Ashley Jenkins."

"Oh, I know. I'm actually here because I heard that she would be. I love her in every show and movie she's in."

"Have you said hi to her yet? I'll bet she has all kinds of frustration she'd like to release."

Julius shook his head. "No, I don't want to bother her now." His phone beeped in his pocket once. "Besides, I'm sure she's far too busy now for someone like me."

"Well, you sit here and mope, then. I'm going to go find someone who wants to spread her sails for me. Release some of that stress you were talking about." And then he was gone.

Julius glanced at his phone. The island was drifting slightly right. He tapped a button the screen to put the ship back on course. "The things I do for love."

MYSTober 2024

Table of Contents

27. Stars