The Suzanna Ferry

A short story from a prompt

One early summer evening, Darren and Josie rowed their boat along the Mississippi river. The rivers current could sometimes get rough in some areas but not very often where they hung out. It was a warm and peaceful ride that they enjoyed many times before. But what they were about to see this time would be life changing and terrifying.

Darren hummed a tune as he rowed the boat and Josie listened and smiled. Some birds were even chirping in the trees near by. But it wasn't long before her smile quickly disappeared when a large ferry boat appeared in front of them.

"Josie, what is it?" Darren asked and quickly turned around.

Surprised by the sight of it, Darren was speechless.

"Um, what do we do Darren? I'm scared," Josie said.

Darren finally collected his thoughts, "it's okay I'll row us over there and out of the way."

"But it appeared out of nowhere and why does it look like that?" Josie asked.

Darren grew up around the area and heard the story but Josie didn't know anything about it. So after Darren rowed them and their boat safely next to the shoreline, he told her what he knew about it. He started by first warning her that they might see something heartbreaking. Then he went on with the story that he was told. Darren told Josie that many years ago there was a ferry boat with the name of Suzanna that ran up and down the river. It was used as transportation for people who didn't have a car and needed a ride to the next town and back.

Darren explained that his great grandfather was usually one of the passengers on that ferry. He said that thankfully the evening it happened, his great grandfather stayed home sick that day. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have heard the story from him.

"Well, what happened?" Josie asked as the side of the ferry was almost in front of them.

Darren moved to the bench next to Josie and put his arm around her. They both saw the ghostly figures of about fifty people who looked as if they were just enjoying the ride. But all of a sudden, thunder rumbled and lightening flashed. Before Darren could tell anymore of the story, it happened. Rained poured down on the ferry and thunder rumbled again. Some of the people opened up their umbrella's while others moved to the center of the boat. What looked like just a rain storm for the ferry turned into horror when a bolt of lightening hit the top deck. That strike started an instant fire that rapidly spread. Some of the women on there screamed and ran around while some of the men jumped into the river and were swept away.

"Oh my gosh, can we help them?" Josie cried out.

"They aren't really there," Darren grabbed Josie's hand.

Tears swelled in Josie's eyes while they sat and watched it like it was a movie on a big screen. The ferry boat was quickly engulfed in flames and the screams of the passengers slowly died out. But then the fire-filled boat drifted down the river a little further and suddenly disappeared.

"Where did it go?" Josie looked around.

"It happened many years ago Josie, those were ghosts."

"So we didn't really see it happen?"

"No, it was an apparition. An apparition that shows up every so often," Darren said.

"A very sad apparition," Josie wiped the tears from her face.

"Yes, very sad. Something I won't ever forget seeing," Darren said.

"Me neither. Let's go back to town."

"Okay," Darren kissed Josie's hand and then moved back to his seat.

While Darren turned the boat around with the oars, Josie glanced back.

"You don't think the ferry will come back do you?" Josie asked.

"I don't know. After all these years, that was the first time I had seen it."

"Well, as interesting as it is to see ghosts or apparitions, I don't care to see that one again," Josie said.

Darren rowed out into the river and started to hum again. He hoped that it would help Josie relax again. When the two of them got back to town, they shared their experience with their families. They continued to journey out onto the river many more times together, but never did see the Suzanna again.

The End