February 2021 Flash Lit 1: Whatever Floats Your Boat

So the boat was left to drift down the stream as it would, till it glided gently in among the waving rushes.  Through the Looking Glass, Chapter 5

 

“Forty five minute wait to sit at the sushi bar,” Cal told Charlie, who sighed tiredly.  “But,” he added, “we can get a table in about five minutes.”

 

“Want boat,” said Ches.

 

Charlie shrugged her shoulders.  “Take the table.  Ches will cheer up when he sees Yosh.”  Cal nodded and pushed through the crowd back to the check in desk.

 

“Want boat,” Ches said again.

 

“I know!” Cinny said, “We have a boat book in the bag!”  She unzipped the diaper bag, spilling a pack of wipes, two diapers, four crayons, and some board books onto the floor and the feet of strangers.  One person turned around to glare, but Cinny was too busy looking for the right book to notice.  Charlie noticed and hoped that the spotless sorority sister ended up with seven snotty children and a large dog to teach her a little sympathy.  Then she felt bad and un-hoped it while helping Cinny put the diaper bag contents back in place.

 

“Want boat.”

 

“Look, Ches, it’s Little Toot!” Cinny cried.

 

“Boat!” he said happily and plopped into the nest of her crossed legs to listen as she read to him.  Charlie thought her heart might burst with love.

 

“Cal, party of four,” the kid at the reception desk called.  Cal had not quite made it all the way back to the rest of them, but he caught Charlie’s eye and they shepherded the kids toward the table.

 

Ches caught sight of the sushi bar with its string of boats circling, laden with rolls and nigiri.  “Want boat!” he said, reaching.

 

Somehow they made it to the table, where things immediately got better.  Yosh, the restaurant owner, loved children and always had something special for them.  Cal and Charlie had been coming for sushi since before Cinny was born, so Yosh considered Cinny and Ches part of his own family.  “Cinny, you smart girl!  Reading so well!” he said.  “And Ches!” 

 

The little boy stood on the chair to hug Yosh.  Then he said, sadly, “Want boat.”

 

“Of course you want a boat!” Yosh said.  “I’ll tell you a secret…  I have some extra boats that don’t float so well.  I’ll bring your dinner on one, just for you.”

 

Ches glowed.  “Boat.”

 

True to his word, Yosh brought Ches his California roll on one of the wooden boats.  “And for you, young lady,” he said to Cinny, “I have this special seahorse plate, suitable for marine biologists, pirates, and princesses, depending on who you are today.”  Cinny giggled and thanked him.

 

Ches, overcome with love for the boat, reached out to hug it and spilled Cal’s water all over the table.  For a second, he looked like he was going to cry, but then he gulped and said, “Float?”