November drabbles - 20

“There’s a ship!”

It was exciting at first. Maybe Mayflower had returned, but she stayed offshore.

“Still there.”

The people watched and grew afraid.

“Close now.” The ship rounded the bay while pilgrims fired their cannon rounding laborers from the field.

“Who’s there?” they asked, and Fortune was her name.

It wasn’t the enemy after all, not French but Englishmen in this small vessel to join their group. But they brought neither food nor aid, only orders for furs to trade, and winter soon.

“She’s gone.”

The strange ship sailed away.

“Count your blessings, one by one.” The people prayed.

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