Jahrae marvelled at how llhaesa played with the empohnims, how she so easily and immediately befriended one, within moments giving the playful water mammal the name ‘Empo.’ At once simple, amusing, and endearing, Jahrae was unsure whether to watch or whether to join in.

After a fashion, she too felt the urge to play. First stripping off the tee shirt that covered a bathing suit underneath, she dove in and joined the fray.

Llhaesa spotted Jahrae, and swam over for a kiss in greeting. Seeing this show of affection, Empo came up on the side of both, nudging Jahrae with his own method of expressing fondness. She kissed him just below the eye in return.

His curiosity about this new human in the water – one obviously on good terms with his other human friend – now satiated, Empo watched intently for llhaesa’s next move.

Llhaesa dove under the water, with Empo in hot pursuit. Within moments, Jahrae could see llhaesa moving across the surface of the water at a clip well beyond the limits of human capability – she was holding onto Empo, screaming exhilaratingly as she plied the bay at a speed somewhere around 30 kilometres per hour.

After ten minutes, llhaesa was back alongside Jahrae, still basking in the excitement of her empohnim ride. Empo remained by her side, and Jahrae could not help but wonder whether he would be sad when they re-boarded the sailboat.

Llhaesa looked at Jahrae with sad and reluctant eyes. “I guess it is time we get back on the boat, but one more Empo-ride, this time with both of us riding.”

The two partners held on for dear life as Empo whooshed through the bay water, occasionally turning or zig zagging, obviously reacting to the laughter and excitement generated by his riders – who weren’t actually riding at all, instead holding on by way of his dorsal fin. Sensing the need to end the ride, Empo came to a rest near their boat. Jahrae was the first to say her goodbyes, giving Empo a quick hug, then swimming over to the boat. Llhaesa lingered a few extra moments.

“It is time for me to leave, Empo. I will always remember you and the time spent in your space. You have taught me much.” Llhaesa finished by wrapping her arms around the sea mammal, giving him a loving squeeze while resting her head upon his. With a final peck on his face, she swam back to the boat, where Jahrae sat on the bow wrapped in a towel.

Llhaesa climbed aboard, grabbing her own towel, and asked Jahrae if she wished to set sail. “I need to get moving or I’m going to burst into tears, Jahrae. Something important happened out there. Not something important on a global scale, but important on my scale.”

“No need to convince me, llhaesa. I knew you would take to sailing, knew you would take to the Bay. You have shown me how correct those assumptions were, ten times over.” Jahrae was thrilled that llhaesa found great joy in her world.

The two teamed to raise the sail, Jahrae then seeing to the anchor, llhaesa taking the helm. Soon they were on their way, the empohnim entourage faithfully following the boat.

Jahrae joined llhaesa by the helm. “I love you, but… should I fear losing you to Empo?” Jahrae teased. “OK, that was low… I know you found something special out there today, and I suspect it will soon find its way into song.”

Llhaesa nodded, a smile playing on her face. Suddenly, a look spawned by idea washed over her face. “Jahrae lets buy a boat. Let’s go back right now, buy a boat, and come back out for a fresh round of three days.”

“Are you serious? I am with you on the boat deal, but… you wish to take more time off for play? Are you feverish? I am on school break – my time is your time, but you normally get antsy when separated for an extended time from a keyboard. Are you certain you wish to do this?” Jahrae needed to ask now, needed to find where llhaesa’s thoughts lie, needed to be the voice of reason. Whether she could do this was an entirely different matter.

“Yeah, I know… but that will be ok. I have not taken a real vacation since high school – with my parents. Jahrae, I need this to refresh my soul. The Artists Colony carried a different purpose – while it was a vacation on one level, I worked like hell on writing as well.” Llhaesa obviously had given this thought.

“If you are certain this is how you feel, then I’ll make a proposal of my own. We buy the boat, and we sail for a full extra week. That would be my terms.” Jahrae flashed a wide grin at llhaesa.

“It’s a deal!”

They quickly came about, llhaesa relinquishing the helm to the more skilled Jahrae. By mid-afternoon, they were back at the rental shop, the clerk surprised to see them a day early. “We’ve decided to buy a boat, and since this is our choice, no refund is expected,” offered Llhaesa, easing his anticipated fear. As an afterthought, she added, “Where is your sales shop?”

“A bit further up the bay, you can see it from the docks. If you go back out to the road, turn left, and go about a kilometre, you cannot miss it. If you wish, I will call ahead for you,” the sales clerk graciously offered.

Fifteen minutes later, llhaesa and Jahrae sat in an office with a sales representative, looking through their online catalogue of in stock boats, narrowing the choices. Then they would actually check out the now winnowed possibilities.

The partners settled on a beautiful, top of the line 9-metre boat, one with a forest green hull and black and yellow striping around the top periphery of the hull. It featured brightly coloured yellow sails with black and forest green stripes, and carried about every amenity one could reasonably expect to find on a 9-metre boat.

They quickly consummated the sale – llhaesa immediately transferred full payment, so there was no need for financing – and the sales rep simultaneously requested the transfer of the boat from storage to water, with protective wrapping removed. Llhaesa and Jahrae asked them to forego any major prep work for now, in order that they quickly resume their vacation. Once vacation ended, they would return the boat to the dealer to complete whatever other things needed attention.

While this took place, they crossed the marina’s customer vehicle area to a food and provisions store, buying their anticipated needs for seven days at sea. Store employees helped them bring the purchases to the marina, where marina employees loaded it on board the boat for them.

An hour later, armed with the knowledge vacation was beginning anew, llhaesa and Jahrae set out in the newly named Overture.

“Thank you so much, Jahrae. You have quietly seen to the renewal of my soul. I cannot think of something I would rather do than sail the waters of the bay with you. You… have my heart, my soul, my mind, and my love.”

Suddenly, Jahrae looked at llhaesa and burst into tears, catching llhaesa totally by surprise. She quickly moved to comfort Jahrae – the why could be figured out later. It turned out there was no need, Jahrae volunteered why.

“I’ve known you for less than a year, llhaesa. A year ago, I worried that my parents – the social cause type *cough* would toss you – rapidly becoming the pre-eminent social cause advocate – at me for inspiration. I set out to learn what I could about you for parental rebuttal purposes. In the midst of reading your bio, I was stunned to see the government ban on you performing at government venues, as well as a myriad of little details, like beginning your music learning curve at age four – and then I saw your pictures for the first time. Can I just say my outlook changed with the information taken in that day?” Jahrae was laughing now, and then continued to share how she felt.

“I never ever would have guessed I would meet you, let alone marry you. You are so much more than what I thought in that first dumb crush phase, llhaesa. I love you more with each passing day. It seems impossible – my love knows no bounds – yet tomorrow morning I will still wake feeling my love for you grew overnight.

Jahrae was done talking, and llhaesa squeezed Jahrae tight, rocking her, whispering return comments in Jahrae’s ear, their embrace taking more urgency. Within moments, the boat was at anchor, and the two found great relief in discovering the bed linens were already prepared.

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