In the morning I could smell fresh ocean air…of course it was mixed with stinky diesel fumes from the port and the smell fried doughnuts from a nearby shop. All the hobo’s and vagabonds from my camp were lining up for their 10 cent cup of joe. Me and my dog Rocky impressed the little old lady behind the doughnut shop counter so much that she gave us a dozen, piping hot, gooey glazed doughnuts for free! It must have been our adorable, good looks! As we sat on the sidewalk fillin’ our tummies with sweet delights I could hear some salty old men talking about a big, old passenger ship that arrived in the port overnight. They said she was the Queen’s ship and she’d sailed all the way round the Straight of Magellan into the Pacific. And here she was…the Queen’s royal ship in this dumpy seaside town! I still couldn’t help but wonder why the old royal ship sailed all the way around the Straight of Magellan instead of cuttin’ through the Panama Canal? Seems more sensible to me to have cut through Central America…but who am I to question the Queen’s Captain? Hearing the old men talkin’ I heard that the old ship might be leaving port soon for a journey across the ocean. Some said she’d be sailing for Osaka or Singapore, while others said she’d be headin’ back down the coast for Tapachula on the Mexico & Guatemalan border. O.K., I know what’s in Singapore & Osaka. Those are big ports! But what the heck is in Tapachula that would be so interesting as to bring the Queen’s ship? Heck, either way I’m guessing I have no day in this matter. Be it Asia or Latin America. Anywhere but here is my destination and I’m gettin’ on this ship with my dog Rocky whether the Queen likes it or not! So off we went, headed down to the docks. There she was in all her rusted glory, the Queen’s ship. She’s the behemoth boat that was sea worthy enough to round the Straight of Magellan. Rocky and me planted my old suitcase in the dirt and sat by the water all afternoon waiting for the old ships whistle to blow. I had the sense enough to know when that whistle blew it was time for us to make our move and stow away on the ship. We waited and waited. We waited so much I was turning pink in the bright sun! So there I was, me and my loyal dog Rocky, just sittin’ in the dirt by the oil slicked water…waiting, and waiting. I waited so much I started to think about Mommy and Daddy back at home. I’m sure they were worrying about me. But don’t they know I’m a big boy now? I packed enough toys to keep me and Rocky occupied. They should be proud that I can take care of myself. I had marshmallows for dinner, doughnuts for breakfast, and we even had M&M’s for lunch! Who says I’m too young to travel on my own? Don’t get me wrong. I do miss my Mommy and Daddy a lot. But I’m gonna make them proud. When they get my postcards from overseas they’ll surely feel better. But for now….we’re just waiting for the Queen’s old ship to blow her whistle.   To be continued…..