The Anders'

The boat was expected to arrive around 5:30 pm. Due to complications along the way, priorities changed and getting the passengers from point A to point B was not the crews’ main focus. So, the boat arrived in the harbour a full four and a half hours later than expected. Naturally, this made some, or most of the passengers quite upset. On any other occasion this would have made Mr. Anders very mad as well, but given the circumstances on this particular day, he sat back in his seat and felt quite relaxed. He was in no hurry to get home. He did not know how he was going to tell her the news, and the extra hours aboard gave him more time to think about how he was going to break it to her.

At the boat dock, all those who had come out to greet their loved ones as they came off various vessels had gone home long ago to prepare supper. After waiting for an hour and feeling quite discouraged, Mrs. Anders finally packed herself up, and trudged her body home to ensure that once her husband stepped foot into the house, he would be met by the sweet aroma of blueberry cobbler.

The complications on the boat were caused by a man with one leg, who needed to be rushed into emergency care, which meant that an extra stop had to be made. Mr. Anders remained in his seat, while most others got up, walked around, and chattered with the other passengers about how they did not like stopping. Mr. Anders noticed that none of the passengers mentioned anything about inconveniencing those who awaited them on shore, as all were too focused on their own well-being. While he did not want to see Mrs. Anders, he worried about her waiting at the dock.

Lost in thought, it took a moment for him to register the light tap on his shoulder. He turned to his left and saw a frail old woman looking up at him.

“Excuse me Mr. Anders, but I have been meaning to ask you for your autograph. It took me quite some time to realize where I knew you from, but now I remember! You played on Broadway, did you not?” Mr. Anders smiled at her, took the pen from her hand, and signed the scrap of paper she held out to him.

“Thank you, you’re such a cordial young man.” She said, causing Mr. Anders to smile to himself and hope that this would somehow make the situation he had to break to his wife a little easier.