While the stars were still sparkling above, we carried our tired bodies into the cold morning air, dreaming of our four day mountain trip, and the ferry boat crossing that magically sailed our family car across the wide sea. My four brothers and I sat with our heads slightly touching the ceiling, uncomfortably squeezed into the back seat of the red paneled station-wagon. Mom had piled our blankets high in the back seat. She first put my eldest brother’s itchy wool green one down, followed by her bright purple paisley comforter on the bench seat, saving my soft blue one for the top. We were headed for our annual trip to Olympic Peninsula. As my father drove, we giggled, shared stories, doing everything we could to keep our heavy eyelids from closing until after we boarded the ferry and had crossed to the other side. The clinking sound the cars made as they drove onto the ferry seemed to make Mom nervous; she would remind us to be calm until Dad was safely parked. Once Mom could see that all the cars were completely stopped, we were allowed to exit our car. My brothers and I slid out of the car, toppling the blankets onto the floor. We then made our escape up the narrow iron stairwell, our shoes squeaked as we ran up the hollow stairs.

The first thing we did on board was to make a bee line to the hot cocoa machine. Mom had given us each a shiny dime for the machine. The cocoa steamed as it hit the paper cup, nearly burning my hand. “Careful it’s hot,” yelled Mom. But it was too late; my tongue had touched the blazing hot liquid. She handed me a drink of her water that cooled my scorched mouth. With paper cups in hand we found a booth to sit and drink our piping hot cocoa and eat the sugary covered donuts that Mom had packed in her whale purse. Dad would then point to the white caps and describe the sea mammals that live there, we squealed as a family of seals poked their heads in and out of the water, one of the seals proudly holding a large salmon between its jaws. Before the cocoa had cooled the ferry captain sounded the horn, the captain made the announcement to return to our seats. In no time we were once again squished into the back seat. Our journey had begun, our bellies were full, and the sea crossing complete we fell asleep, dreaming of ferry boats, creamy hot cocoa and a whale purse filled with sugary treats.