The sun had barely started to peek over the horizon. The wind carried around an air of solace as the waves lapped against the side of the ship.
I yawned while using my fingers to clear my sight.
Sighing contentedly, a huge smile came to my face. I was doing it finally. After years of self made promises that I never fulfilled, here I was, taking my well deserved vacation.
I took a walk to the sundeck to get a better few of the ocean.
"Is that your real hair", came a little voice.
I looked down to see a little girl with big brown eyes and chubby cheeks. She couldn't be more than six.
I smiled, "No it's not. I added something to make it this way"
She blushed, "It's really pretty"
"Thank you"
"So what are you doing out here alone?"
I looked down at her again, "I was just going to watch the sunrise then go get myself a cup of coffee"
She giggled, "I'm Louisa by the way and my Dad loves coffee too"
Wiggling my eyebrows I said, "My name is Dia and I think we better go find your dad"
We had barely walked two steps to the shipboard diner when we heard an angry voice.
"What do you mean you've run out of coffee beans. How do you get on a ship with over 300 grown people and not double check to see if you have coffee on board?"
We peeked in to see what the ruckus was about.
"Sir I'll need you to calm down. We are making plans as I speak to have it delivered it to us on sea"
The man glared, "And how long is that supposed to take?"
"We don't know yet".
The argument had not even died down yet when we heard another raised voice, "I need coffee to start my day. Look at me, tell me what you see. Do I look okay to you?"
"Ma'am you look perfectly fine", another attendant said to the woman shouting.
"She's lying. That woman looks like the zombie I saw in the movie I watched last week", Louisa whispered to me.
I started to laugh but it was cut short by a voice behind me, "I thought I specifically told you not to see that movie".
We both turned around almost at the same time.
"Daddy!!!!!!!". Louisa ran to him but the look gave her had her stopping in her tracks.
"What did I tell you about talking to strangers?"
She looked at her feet, "Not to talk to them"
My mother told me there were situations when my opinion was not needed. This was one of those times, unfortunately I did not take heed.
"Don't blame Louisa, I should not-"
"Exactly you shouldn't have been talking to a six year old without her parents".
He didn't wait for me to speak, he took her hand and left.
By this time, chaos had erupted on the ship. All the passengers were complaining. Some went as far as screaming at the staff.
I loved my coffee but I had never realized that it was such a vital part of people's day.
The Head Attendant assured everyone that they had sent word out and the issue would soon be rectified soon. No one was pacified by this.
People dragged their feet around. The woman from earlier walked around the ship stamping her feet like a petulant child and if I wasn't coffee deprived I would have laughed.
The day flew by. Most people went back to their cabins.
Later in the evening, everyone rushed out at the news of the coffee beans arrival.
You could guess who was first in line. The woman from earlier looked like magical pixie dust had been sprayed on her after she had her cup of Coffee.
I stood on the sideline waiting for everyone to get their fill because I've never been one to like struggle.
The breeze blew through my hair and I sighed.
"I'm sorry"
I spined to find Louisa's father extending his hand. A hand that was holding a cup of coffee.
I took it from him.
"I didn't know how you liked yours so I added some milk and sugar".
Bringing the cup to my lips I took a sip, "Thanks"
"I'm really sorry about earlier. I am super protective of Louisa, been that way since she lost her mother. Plus I get grumpy when I've not had my morning coffee"
"It's fine. I get it"
Silence followed.
"So are you here with anyone?, Family?"
"No it's just me. Finally taking a well deserved vacation"
"I'm Dylan by the way"
"I'm-"
"Dia. Louisa told me"
I smiled. A smile that somehow served as an invitation to continue conversing. We ended up talking through the night.
I've never been good at making friends so I was glad I managed to make one on board. Two actually if a twenty four old can be friends with a six year old.
And I think everyone learnt an important lesson most especially the staff of the ship.
"If you're going to be in the middle of the sea, check, double check, then triple check and ensure you have Coffee beans on board"
