The Superior Sea

As we were travelling around Lake Superior to pick up my sister I was able to think of a story idea... don't judge me, I know the story is stupid. 😝 But I do have a moral, and I hope you can decipher it. Look for that small easter egg... even though it's not Easter...

P.S The characters are fictional.😝 I promise. 

This improv trip was a mistake. 

Driving around Lake Superior around Christmastime wasn’t such a bad idea. But driving around Lake Superior at Christmastime with your whole family packed into the back of the van… could very well be a bad idea. 

Mom thought it’d be fun and educational to see all the old sights and the history of the old place. Dad wanted to come because he wanted to see the view. 

Me? I didn’t want to come at all. The only reason I’m here is that I wasn’t allowed to stay home alone. But I wouldn’t be alone; I’d have my cat.

But anyways, my brother and two sisters are packed in this minivan with me… as if they are any comfort. They were persuaded it would be fun. Me? Not so much. 

“Wait, what? I thought you said-“

“I didn’t. I said…”

Yep, those are my parents. They are only now realizing they should’ve planned this trip a bit more thoroughly. What did I tell them? 

At this point, they have no idea where we are supposed to be going. It just so happens that Dad left our GPS at our last stop. Mom’s phone died and Dad doesn’t have one. And of course, I nor my siblings are allowed to have a phone.

So we are driving down the road, around Lake Superior, and headed probably somewhere towards Sudbury… at least that’s where we hope to end up. But without a map, it’s only a wild guess. 

“Pass me the chips, Janina,” My brother calls out to me. 

“No way! You’ve had way too much already.” Jessica gives her ‘superior’ look; which is fitting given our location. Maybe the lake was named after someone similar to my pompous younger sister. 

“Mom!” Jay complains. I roll my eyes, knowing he’ll get his way. He always does. But quite surprisingly, he is ignored. Our parents are still continuing their debate on which way to turn in a couple miles. 

But my older sister, Jazzy, replies, saying, “She’s right, Jay; you don’t need more.” 

You don’t need more? He practically ate half the bag! 

Jessica grins and daintily pulls out another chip, biting it gracefully. 

“Oh, please!” I mutter. Jay glares at Jessica and probably would’ve snatched the chip from her had Dad not shouted out loud and pointed out the window.

Jay stopped his hand in mid-air, glancing out the window to see what was so exciting. 

We had come out of the trees and were now driving across a bridge; we were able to see the misty lake stretching across the horizon, the blue-grey softened by the clouds that hung over the sky. 

“Wow,” Mom breaths. 

I have to admit, it doesn’t look so bad. 

Parts of the lake are frozen over, covered in a layer of white ice. But there are parts where the ice is weak and melted; holes in the surface. 

We fly around the corner, and again the lake is hidden from us behind the trees. Maybe the lake is shy. Or maybe it’s like me. Maybe it doesn’t like people. 

The lake and I should get along very well. 

I watch out the window for another view of the small little sea. But nothing appears. Only more rocks, trees and snow. 

I let my eyes drop, disappointment flooding through me. Just when I had something to enjoy, it disappears. 

“Hey, look!” Jay cries, again pointing out the window. 

 I follow his gesture and see the waterfall frozen in a cascading motion down across the rock. 

“You just noticed that? Those waterfalls have been there the whole time.” Jazzy is utterly bewildered that he hadn’t seen it before. 

“He was playing on his iPod the whole time,” I explain moodily. 

“Ohh,” Jazzy says with a serious nod. Jay glares at us both and I only shrug and turn away, once again glancing out the window. 

The trees still block my view of the sea, or rather, the lake. Although I prefer to call it a sea. It sounds better that way. 

I prop my chin in my hands, waiting for the time to pass, trying to escape to a peaceful place in my mind. But to no avail. I can still hear my parents trying to decide what to do, Jessica and Jay still arguing, and Jazzy’s music playing through her cheap earbuds. 

I sigh to myself. Why am I the oddball in my family? The feeling of lonesomeness creeps in again; certainly not for the first time.

A loud noise jerks my gaze away from the window as the van comes to a lurching stop. Jessica breaks off in mid-sentence, jolting forward. 

The van comes to a dead stop, and silence reigns for a few long seconds before Jay says, “Dad?” 

There is no answer as Dad sits with his hands on the wheel, a stunned look plastered on his face.

“What happened?” Jessica asks. Again there is no answer. 

Dad steps out of the van and slams the door, leaving us in the silence as he walks around the whole van, checking for problems. 

The road is clearly deserted, so I hope to myself that the problem is not a major one. The look on Dad’s face as he opens the door to speak to Mom assures me it is. 

“We blew a tire.” 

I sink into my seat, closing my eyes. All I wanted was to get to Sudbury and back as swiftly as possible so I could get home to my cat, Marlee. Even though she’s a grouchy cat. We get along well. We understand each other.

“Now what?” Jessica asks. She obviously doesn’t realize what this means. I remember Dad forgot to bring the spare tire. He has a reputation for forgetting things.

After Dad spells out this news to Mom, she starts trying to get her phone to come back to life and Dad steps out of the car again, walking in circles around it.

Jay resumes his game on the iPod, expecting the problems to be fixed quick and painlessly. Jessica still has her forehead creased, and she and Mom begin a conversation of which I ignore. Jazzy looks concerned but grabs a book as she waits. Bookworm.

Me? I have nothing to do. There’s no one to talk to, I hate reading, and my iPod has become very boring. 

My legs suddenly feel very cramped and I start getting claustrophobic. “Mom,” I interrupt. “Can I go outside?” 

She nods and I scramble overtop of my brother to climb out the door. I don’t know why he got to sit in the middle; I’m older, after all.

“I’ll come with you,” Jazzy says.

“No!” I command emphatically. She cowers back in her seat, hurt showing on her face.

If I need anything, it’s to be alone. But guilt plagues me as I shut the door of the van and walk away. Jazzy is always so obedient and submissive. But that’s her choice.

I stomp through the snow, my pompom bobbing on my hat. I have to get away. 

Knowing I shouldn’t leave sight of the van, but not really caring if I do, I follow the road for a few strides. Dad will take awhile with the van. 

The fresh air does wonders, but I huff it out with vengeance. Being stuck in that van for two days, while only staying in hotels for the nights, can be very frustrating. You can’t move your legs hardly an inch, you can only occupy yourself with a few gadgets, and if you eat a slightly strange thing it’ll set off your stomach, making you feel ill. 

But out here, walking at the edge of the road, with perfectly huge white snowflakes falling down around me, I feel like I could dance. Except I don’t dance. Ever. 

After a few minutes of following the road, I come to another one of those spots. Where the lake is the Superior Star of the show. 

I gaze across the grey-blue waters, the peaceful stillness washing over me. I breathe easier now. 

“I don’t want to go back.” 

 My voice carries softly over the wind, over the snow, the rocks, and then over the sea. But I know I must or Mom will get worried and send someone looking for me. Although I’m just over the bend.

I give one last longing look at the sea, then turn reluctantly and trudge slowly back to the van. Dad is still outside, on his knees working with the tire. 

I crawl back into the tight, stale smelling van, only to be greeted by more arguing and complaining. 

Why couldn’t I just have stayed outside?

I rub my temples, a headache coming on. “Mom, what did Dad say about our… predicament?” 

“There’s not much he can do; he left everything at home. We’re just waiting for a car to come by. Maybe they can give us a ride or contact someone.” 

I nod, hoping she’s right. And also hoping someone comes by before it gets dark. 

We have no such luck. The evening drags by, with all of us stuffed into the car. The only thing I’m thankful about is that we brought blankets and winter clothes; we sure aren’t cold.

But even though we are toasty warm, the van still runs, and no one is hurt, all we can do is complain.

The only one not complaining is Jazzy, but she never complains. She just sits contentedly with her earbuds in, humming softly to herself.

“Mom! Tell Jazzy to stop humming!” Jessica whines. 

Mom turns to look back at us with a frown. “Why are all of you in a bad mood? You have nothing to complain about!” 

“I’m not in a bad mood!” Jessica snaps. 

“Don’t talk to your mother like that.” Dad warns. I slink back in my chair, once again wishing I was anywhere else but here. Why are we trapped in this vehicle? I knew this was a bad idea.

“Mom is right,” Dad goes on. “We have absolutely nothing to complain about.”

I grunt. “Umm, besides the fact that we are stuck here with no communication and can’t go anywhere until we are found?” 

“So what? We aren’t going to die. We have lots of food packed, we’re warm, and help is on the way.” 

Jay sits up. “Help’s on the way?” 

“Of course. This is a highway, you know.” Dad replies.

“Funny,” Mom muses. “I haven’t seen any cars for awhile.” 

I close my eyes. Maybe if I fall asleep this torture will pass quicker. What torture? A voice in my head says. You aren’t cold, are you? 

‘Well, no…’  

Exactly. 

‘Exactly, what?’ 

Well, what do you have to complain about? 

‘Now you sound like Mom.’

Is that such a bad thing?

I sigh. ‘Okay, okay. I’ll try to be more grateful. But it’s harder than it sounds.’ 

The voice says nothing.

‘I guess I’ll just try to sleep, then.’ I cuddle up in my blanket, the warmth enveloping me in a cozy hug.

It takes me about fifteen minutes to finally drift off. When I do, I dream of skating on Lake Superior, performing a perfect toe-loop and landing smoothly on the ice, my royal blue dress twirling around me.

I wake up. What kind of dream was that? I never figure skate. I sit up, confused with my own thoughts. I see that it is still dark, and everyone except Dad is sleeping. 

Jay is snoring.

“Dad?” I whisper. He looks back at me and I say, “No one came, yet?” 

He shakes his head. 

Where is everyone? I think to myself. Aloud I say, “I hope someone comes soon.” 

“Are you warm?” 

I give a little grin. “Yeah." 

“Hungry?”

“Sadly, no." I pause. "I have nothing to complain about, huh?” 

“Nope, not at all,” He replies with a knowing chuckle. Then he stops. “Wait! I see headlights around the corner!” 

I sit up excitedly. “Really?” 

I watch as a car comes flying around the bend. Dad has enough time to step out and wave wildly, hoping he is seen in the dark. 

The car slows to a stop and reels down the window. An older man is inside, and he says something to Dad. Dad looks relieved and replies. They continue on for a few minutes before Dad comes back and wakes everyone up. “We got a ride.” 

As we are driving with this man, who turns out to be named Barry, Dad says to me, “Ready to get to the hotel?”
I grin. “Can’t wait.”