Danger Bay Cyber-Story—Chapter One—How the Cybertale Began
While I am preparing for the next “season” of Danger Bay—we’ll just take a trip back to where it began (and along the way some necessary editing of those early episodes). With some luck, and a little time, I’ll be presenting more of those early episodes bundled into chapters.
[Episode 1—Strangers Arrive! by Jay Merton (writing as Molly Halloran)]:
Medlar Farkleberry, current owner of the Danger Bay Star Gasoline station (full service only, thank you very much), was opening the station early this fine Danger Bay morning, when he noticed a whole gaggle of strangers over to Silverthorn’s Café.
“This is odd,” he thought, “we don’t get no strangers stoppin’ by much these days, just me an’ th’ boys getting’ our mornin’ coffee an’ stale doughnuts. Wonder what’s goin’ on?”
Now don’t misread Medlar, known by the locals as Lar, by the way he speaks. He is a very cagey businessman—he has to be, he has accomplished more than most big city gas stations have, a thriving gas station in a village that time and progress has passed by. Not only does he have this station, but a marine gas and diesel outlet right down on the shore of Danger Bay on Lake Superior, and that little outlet does a very brisk business supplying fuel to the many long-range pleasure cruisers and trawlers making their way along Big Lake’s North Shore.
Let me introduce myself. I’m Molly Halloran, soon to be the manager of the Sparrow Big Lake Cruise Company here in Danger Bay, and the Second Officer of the MV Sparrow. The Sparrow, owned by Jay Merton, “Boomer” Jack Boardman and I, will be based at Danger Bay.
Although Lar doesn’t know it yet, the strangers at the café are Jay, Boomer, & I, my fiancé, Joe Kewl, retired banker Trigg Guudlender, and real estate broker, “Miami” Maggie Dokic.
Lar’s world will soon be tipped on its side—and this is the continuing story of how that comes to pass.
[Episode 2—Lar meets the Strangers by Jay Merton (writing as Molly Halloran)]:
Medlar “Lar” Farkleberry as he was opening his Danger Bay Star Gas Station (full service only, thank
you very much), noticed a gaggle of strangers on the boardwalk of Silverthorns’ Café. Curiosity soon got the better of him:
“Wal, I could do m’books later, I s’pect,” he thought, “an’ nobody’s gonna be by f’gas for an hour or so, p’haps I’ll lock up an’ head over ta Silverthorn’s.”
And that’s just what he did. His heavy work-boots clopped on the boards, as he stepped up on the boardwalk, he saw the strangers through the window, two of them wearing maritime uniforms sitting at the small table, by the front plate-glass window, and four more with one also wearing a maritime outfit (that would be me) at the counter.
“Mornin,” Lar greeted the strangers as he clopped over to the lone remaining stool at the counter and sat down, “welcome ta Danger Bay.”
He received a round of “Morning” and “How are you?” in return from our little entourage, and then he asked: “What brings you folks ta town? Howdja get here, don’t see no car?”
“Came by boat,” I answered, “we’re tied up at the pier.”
“We’re checking out Danger Bay as a place to live,” added Trigg, “At least I am. I’m Isaac Guudlender, but you may call me Trigg.”
Lar, a good judge of character, thought, “This feller smiles a lot, not th’ stab ya in th’ back kinda smile, but th’ honest smile of a happy person.”
Then he said, “Not much here anymore, but th’ blue house across th’ road’s fer sale.”
“We’re also looking for a place,” I said as I placed my mug of really horrible coffee (Jay’s going to have do something about this) down on the counter, “to headquarter our boat and tour operation.”
“I think I kin help ya,” Lar replied (and if you could see his thought bubble—it would be filled with question marks & dollar signs), “Who’re them fellers in the corner? They sure don’t have much ta say.”
“Oh that’s Jay Merton & “Boomer” Jack Boardman,” I answered, smiling, “captain and 1st officer of the Sparrow. But I’m writing this story, and I won’t let them speak!”
[Episode 3—Dawn aboard the Sparrow by Jay Merton (writing as Molly Halloran)]:
The next morning, a beautiful day was dawning as I stepped into the Captain’s cabin this fine Danger Bay morning. Already there were Captain Jay and 1st Officer—wait—Trigg was wearing the 1st officer’s shoulder boards!
“Good morning Jay, Trigg,” I greeted, and then quickly added, “Where’s Boomer?”
“Gone home,” Trigg replied, “to his REAL WORLD—you know the three dimensional one.”
“I’ll soon be leaving as well,” Jay added, “This story is yours, Captain, and you need to tell it without Boomer & me hanging around (Damn fine organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, French Roast coffee this morning—gotta ship some to Silverthorn)!”
“Captain?” I asked, not having paid attention to a word Jay said after that, “Captain?”
“Yes Molly, Captain,” Trigg answered, “and I’m your 1st officer. Jay asked me to run the headquarters, but after 35 years of pushing a desk at the bank, I’d rather be anywhere than behind a desk again. So, I woke up this morning and found this cap and shirt hanging in my locker.”
“I guess Joe can run the office,” I thought out loud, “I wonder if Maggie would be interested in helping on the boat?”
“I’m confident that you’ll get it all handled,” Jay said, “I really must be off, I need to draw another ship’s officer, and to make Lenn happy, some cars & trucks for the village.” And with that, Jay disappeared.
“Did I tick Jay off with what I wrote yesterday?” I asked, “You know, the part about not letting them speak.”
“Nope,” Trigg replied.
“How do you know?”
“Simple, Jay controls the ‘Delete’ key!”
To be CONTINUED—Chapter Two
Priceless…
Bob: Re-runs were your suggestion, sort of…