Althea

She was carved from her mother and the Sea, my sweet Althea. Born under the greatest sunsets on Earth, and celebrated by the hymns of an Ocean Choir. She was brought into this world, screaming and declaring herself princess of the Mediterranean. She shared our dark hair and olive skin. But despite our deep routes of brown eyes, Althea was born with eyes of cerulean blue. Her mother, Phosphoria called it a gift from Poseidon.

As much as I begged my 8-month-pregnant wife that traveling from Mykonos to Athens would be unwise in her condition, there was no coming between her and her Father’s poor health.

“I will go myself. But if you truly care for my safety as you claim now, you will accompany me,” She had said.

So we set out on an old sailboat I inherited, ironically from my father-in-law.

Being born from her obstinate mother, it was only natural Althea inherited the slightly more unfavorable quality. It is her mother’s Stubbornness that led to a natural birth in the wake of an unforgiving sea, and it is because of Althea’s persistence we have returned.

It is Dawn; the hour when the sun’s charitable warmth settles the water into a peaceful ripple; A fleeting moment of tranquility submersed in a vivid sky. Our tiny sailboat was an insignificant vessel swallowed by such a vast red horizon. I worked the paddles as the winds disappeared. Althea leaned over the gunwale watching the distorted reflection of her hand while humming the tune of “Itan Ena Mikro Karavi.” A children’s song about a small boat. Behind us, the sugar cube homes of our neighbors were shrinking.

It took A lot of convincing and tugging at my fish-scented raincoat to get me out. But if anyone could sway me to do so, it’s Althea. I was reluctant to go, not because of the long day at the fish market with arthritis in my fingers, salt water filling up the cuts on my hands, or the gout in my toes. It wasn’t even because Althea would be up late and we’d most likely be coming back to shore in near darkness. Though, I hadn’t admitted it to Althea I suppose it was because I wasn’t ready to let go yet.

“Althea, it's getting dark and the wind isn’t strong enough to carry us further.”

“This isn’t it papa. Just a little further.”

“Althea.”

“Please, papa. It has to be perfect.”

She sat up. Her knees came to her chest. She hugged herself tight. In the last hours of the sun, her eyes shined the brightest. They were swelling with tears and consuming any light that they could manage.

“Tell me the story. One last time. Please papa. Then I promise…” She wiped her nose with the sleeve of her sweatshirt. Beside her was a fleece blanket. She took it and wrapped herself in it.

“Okay Althea, okay.”

I snuggled next to her where we shared the warmth of the blanket. We shed some tears as our foreheads came together. I kissed her cheek. She rested her head on my shoulder. And then I began.

“The story of the Mediterranean Princess. Born of the Sea!” I waved my hand across the sky. Althea giggled. She pulled herself tighter against me. “It started as a clear day. Lots of gold in the sky. A sign of great wealth to come. The Queen, desperate to see her ill-stricken Father across the land, took matters into her own hands. She hurried down to the shore, with only essentials in a satchel. The king followed behind her, struggling to keep up. He lifted his large belly with his hands and quickened his step.” Althea padded my stomach and giggled again.

“My Queen. I urge you to think about this. You’re due to give birth in one month’s time. Traveling by boat is not wise,” the King said.

“Papa. You don’t talk like that!” Althea laughed so hard that spit shot out of her mouth.

“I’m telling the story, exactly how it happened.”

She laughed again. “You tell it different every time.”

“But I keep the most important parts.” I tapped her nose with my finger.

“The golden sun had already blessed the day with a heat that could sweat a seal.”

“What does that mean Papa?”

“It was a very hot day. Now listen.”

“The king, in a rush to catch his distressed Queen had hurried after her with no shoes on. When they reached the shore he yelped and hopped. He grabbed his left foot. He grabbed his right foot. The sand was simply too hot. But the Queen was not stopping. With great Motherly strength, she tugged the boat all on her own into the water.

“Wait, Wait I beg you! I’m coming my Queen,” The King shouted.

“He danced a gesture’s silly dance all across the sand. When he got to the boat he was out of breath. His feet were blistered. He was delighted to let them soak in the cold water rising and falling from the shore.”

“After you, my Queen.”

“The King extended his hand to his lovely Wife, who then took it in one hand, her other lifting her gown. The King set the sail, and they were off to chase the golden nugget high up in the sky. They endured the heat casting upon their faces. Did what they could to conserve the little amount of food the Queen had packed in her Satchel. This made it hard for the King's sweet tooth considering all that was packed were some of his favorite desserts.”

Althea perked up. Her blue eyes went wide. “OOOO like what?”

“Well, As the Queen fell asleep, The king desired a peak in the satchel. It was being guarded tightly by a snoring Queen, so he opened it with care. He reached his hand gently through the small opening. He could feel her breath on his forearm as he slipped his arm further into the bag. When he lifted it free, he held in his hand, a Loukoumade the size of his palm."

“MMMMMM!” Althea licked her lips. “My Favorite.”

“He bit into it slowly, trying to savor its flavor. His deviance must have brought misfortune, however, because soon after, dark clouds covered the sun. Thunder rolled across the sky like a lion’s roar.”

Althea gasped and brought her fingers to her teeth.

“The Thunder woke the Queen who sat up to rain tapping on her head. She frowned at the King, who was still holding the loukoumade in his hand. Then, as if the rain wasn’t bad enough, The Queen clutched her stomach and her face twisted into one of great agony.”

“The baby's coming,” The Queen said.

“The King panicked. He didn’t know what to do. He gazed into the struggling eyes of his Wife. Then in desperation, he stood from his wet seat and shouted. “HELP! Someone. ANYONE!”

“The boat swayed back and forth. He struggled to keep his balance. No one answered. For hours they endured pelting rain, harsh winds, and unimaginable pain. The queen lay on the wet floor of the boat clutching her stomach. With labored breathing, she sang an old sailor's lullaby. Her beautiful voice carried into the wind. Her well-kept melody synchronized with the rise and fall of the boat on the daunting waves."

There was a little Ship

never having sailed

hey, hey, hey

And it sailed a long trip

in the Mediterranean Sea

hey, hey, hey

"The queen did her best to sing, even with a straining voice and horrendous pain. She felt that her singing would soothe the future princess. It did much more than that though. The song summoned a Mermaid! Who lept from the water onto the boat. She had red hair and a sparkling green fin."

“Hi, I’m Ariel. It seems you need some help,” said the kind, Mermaid.

Althea rolled her eyes and giggled. “Papa.”

“After a few long hours, the princess was born and declared a gift from the Ocean by Ariel herself. Who told us later that she too is a princess. The moment the Princess, whom the Queen named Althea, was lifted and brought to the hands of her Mother the clouds cleared again. The sun winked. The waves calmed.”

I stopped the story to immerse myself in Althea’s innocent joy. She looked at me with a smile that gave back lost memories of her Mother. I looked through her, feeling every bit of trace left behind.

“Papa?”

I removed strands of hair blocking her eyes. “She is the light that tamed the darkness.” I continued.

Althea squeezed my arm tight. We lived in that moment, both harnessing what it means to feel true love.

After the needed silence in the calming breeze, she lifted her head near my chin and asked, “What happened to Grandpa? Did you make it to him?”

“Oh yes, in fact with Ariel's help, we got a special ride. A huge sperm whale ascended from the water, putting our boat directly on its back. The Whale took us all the way to Athens where your Grandfather was able to meet his new granddaughter.” I bent over and Kissed Althea's cold and rosy cheeks.

“A Whale! I’ve always wanted to see one!”

“Your Mother loved Whales. She'd sit on the sailboat for hours whale-watching until I begged her to return to shore. She once said that Whales represent love, longevity, and harmony."

“I miss her Papa,” Said Althea.

“I do to Princess. But she’s with us every day. She’s always in you.”

“This is what she would’ve wanted,” Althea reached under her seat. She held against her body, an urn of tiel, white, and dark blue, blending to represent water’s recycling of life.

“I think so too,” I said.

The sun was almost gone. With the small amount of light we had left, we tossed the ashes into the sky where the wind carried it across the ocean floor. When twilight came the bright moon accepted the great gift of a well-lived life. The sky was clear. The stars and moon reflected noticeably on the water.

“Papa look!” Althea pointed her finger.

In the not-so-far distance, a Sperm Whale emerged. It spit water like a raging fountain high into the night sky. It disappeared back into the water, but not before giving a friendly wave of its dorsal fin.