Santiago’s First Journeyinto the Sea

Santiago is the son of a fisherman. His grandfather and his grandfather’s grandfather were fishermen. Fishing on the sea has been in the family for many years. Now, he dreams of rowing his own boat into the sea, and catching the biggest fish his father has ever seen.

His father began to teach him the ways of being a good fisherman 2 years ago. Tomorrow will be his 7th birthday. It will be the first time that Santiago has gone out to sea with his father to fish.

He was awakened from his dream by his mother’s voice. “Wake up, sleepy head. Today is the day! The day you go to sea to learn to be a fisherman. First, you need to come eat your breakfast.

He quickly got himself dressed. His mother had made his favorite breakfast. She had prepared rice and fish on a fire built in the middle of the dirt floor in their one room hut.

Rice and fish was real treat, because it has been many days since his father was able to catch a fish. The fish for Santiago’s breakfast was given to his mother by a family down the lane that was lucky at sea yesterday.

His father’s love was fishing, and soon, it will be Santiago’s. They finished their breakfast and he watched as his father stepped away from the table. His father went to the corner and picked up the mast and sail for the boat and put it over his shoulder.

He handed Santiago the lines and gaff hook to carry. “Let’s go son, I would like to be on the sea before the sun’s rays hit the water,” his father said as he grabbed the sardines and tuna wrapped in newspaper that was going to become the bait for the big fish.

Santiago and his father walked down the lane to the seashore. He could hear the waves of the sea crashing onto the beach. He was excited for his first trip into the sea.

Santiago’s father placed the sail into the boat, and reached out for the lines and gaff hook. Santiago remembers that he would walk his father to the boat each morning. He would hand him the gear and watch as he rowed into the sea.

Today was his day to go into the sea with his father. Santiago handed the gear and stood next to his father.

They stepped into the warm sea water and pushed the boat out until it floated freely. Santiago’s father helped him into the boat, and jumped in behind him.

His father took the oars into his hands and began to row.

His father felt that Santiago was not strong enough to row the boat through the waves near the shore. As soon as his father rowed far enough through the waves, his father handed over the oars. “It is your turn, son,” he said, “I will bait the hooks while you row.”

Santiago was only a lad of 7 years, but anxiously took over the rowing of the boat. He wanted to make his father proud. He did not realize how difficult it was to row a boat on the sea, but Santiago was determined to show his father that he was capable.

As he rowed, one of the oars hit something in the water, and he nearly dropped it overboard. With swift hands, his father was able to grab the oar just as it hit the water. “You need to watch for those sea turtles, if a fisherman breaks or loses his oars, he loses the means to travel home,” his father said reassuringly.

Santiago returned to rowing and gripped the oars more tightly. He was also carefully watching the sea for creatures to ensure that he will not lose grip of the oar again.

His hands began to tire and his father asked if he needed to rest. “No, I need to do this. If I am going to become a great fisherman, I need to learn how to do this.” Santiago said. His father smiled, and returned to baiting the hooks.

Santiago noticed the scars on his father’s hands. He knew that his father worked hard, and was a proud fisherman. He wanted to be a great fisherman, too.

The oar fell from his hands again, as his hands cramped from the tight grip. This time, he was able to catch the oar himself. He stowed the oars, telling his father that he needs to rest his hands for just a moment. His father smiled, and continued baiting the hook he held.

After a few moments, Santiago grabbed the oar again, and began to row. He looked out into the sea to make sure that he could still see the town in the distance. He knew that he needed to keep watch on the town, as that is how he would know which way to row in order to return home.

It was a good day of fishing; they were successful in catching enough fish for bait for tomorrow, a fish for the neighbors and a nice big fish for their supper.

The sun was going down, and he and his father pulled in the lines and stowed them in the bow. His father sat, and took the oars to begin rowing home.

Santiago said, “Father, I need to do this. Rowing is part of fishing, and I need to become strong enough to be able to do this on my own when you are too old to come with me.” His father grinned, and handed him the oars.

Santiago looked over his shoulder to get his bearings on where the town was. He began to row towards home. His hands hurt from the lines and his body was very tired. Santiago pushed on, determined to get back to shore under his own power.

Row after row, he was getting closer and closer to land. He found that rowing back was a little easier that rowing out. The current was helping push him towards home. He noticed that his tired hands were losing grip on the oar, and stowed them for a moment.

He feared losing the oars again, so Santiago took two small pieces of line, securely tied one end to the oar, and the other to his wrist. He did this for both oars. His father looked at him curiously. “I want to be sure that I do not lose an oar. If I do, the trip home will be longer, and if I lose them both, we will have to swim. It is still too far to swim to shore, for the sharks are looking for a meal,” Santiago responded.

Santiago resumed rowing, and the sea began to get violent. He was nearing the shore, the waves were breaking, and he needed to be sure that the boat did not tip over. They would lose everything, the mast, lines, and most importantly, the fish. “It has been many, many days since my father had caught fish.” he thought as he gripped the oars tighter.

The waves beat against the side of the boat, much like a shark trying to bite at its prey. Santiago struggled to keep the boat from tipping, but held fast to the oars. He badly wanted to give the oars to his father so he could take over.

Santiago looked into his father’s eyes, and saw reassurance and pride. His gaze reassured Santiago that he was doing well, and the pride in his father’s eyes made him determined to get the boat to shore.

A big wave hit the boat, and Santiago lost grip on one of the oars, he panicked and grabbed for it. As his hand hit the oar, he remembered that he had tied it to his wrist, and it was not lost. He grabbed the oar with all of his might, and continued to oar through the waves. As fast as the rough waves began, they were gone, and the boat was now in shallow water.

Santiago untied the oars from his wrists, and stowed them. His father was smiling at him, and they both hopped out of the boat, and pulled it onto the shore. Santiago secured the boat in the way that his father had taught him.

His father gathered the sail, and the fish, while Santiago gathered the lines and gaff hooks. Santiago and his father were very tired from the long, but very successful day of fishing. His father glowed with pride; Santiago could see it in his father’s tired eyes.

“Because of your determination, we will be eating well tonight, and so will the neighbors.”

“Let’s go home and show your mother how successful you were as a fisherman today,” his father said.

They walked down the lane side by side, Santiago and Manolin, fishermen of the sea.

written by Nellie Woods for English 10

The end is just the beginning.