User blog:Thomperfan/Nolan and Betsy

(It starts with me and Lisa at the Royal Woods docking area. Lisa is testing out a new machine and I’m helping her. Just then I notice something on the water.)

Me: Lisa, look!

Lisa: What?

(I’m watching a sailboat float past. The boat is named Rednose and the captain sailing it is a girl.)

Me: (to Lisa) Isn’t it beautiful, Lis?

Lisa: Oh, pish posh. What use is an old mode of aquatic transportation with sails? (holds up her machine) You this new depth sounder? It tells us exactly how deep the water is. Now that’s something that’s really useful.

Me: (not listening) Y-Yeah, sure Lisa.

Lisa: Now, come help me set it up.

Me: OK.

(I go to help Lisa. Later I go over to the dock where Rednose is docking.)

Voice: (Off-screen) Ahoy there!

Me: (not knowing who that was) Huh? Who said that?

Voice: I did.

(I turn around and see the girl that was sailing Rednose on Rednose)

Me: Oh, you’re that girl who was driving the ship. I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.

Girl: Name’s Betsy. And you are?

Me: Oh, I’m Nolan!

Betsy: Well, Nolan, would you like to come aboard my ship?

Me: Oh, sure!

(Betsy throws down a ladder and I climb it and get on board.)

Me: Wow, this is a really nice ship.

Betsy: Thanks. Her name is Rednose. She’s been in my family for generations.

Me: Well, she’s very pretty.

Betsy: Can I offer you some snacks?

Me: Snacks? You have snacks on this boat?

Betsy: Of course I have snacks. This isn’t just my boat, it’s my home.

Me: Wow! Sure, I’d love to have snacks!

Betsy: Well, follow me, then.

(I do so.)

A FEW MINUTES LATER

(Betsy and I are talking about stuff and eating cookies.)

Betsy: You know, Nolan. I’m so glad you came along. It’s very lonely out here.

Me: Oh, really? Well, I always thought someone with a cool ship like Rednose would have lots of friends.

Betsy: No, other ships don’t seem to want to talk to me. Maybe it’s because my ship is different, or maybe, because she’s old. Years ago, before the motor ships came along, there were many many sailing ships. But now, Rednose is the only one left.

Me: Oh. Well, I can be your friend.

Betsy: Really? You would do that for me?

Me: Of course!

Betsy: (hugs me) Oh, thank you, so much!

(Cuts to the two of us sailing around on Rednose.)

Me: (To Betsy) Wow, this is really fun. Who knew it was so cool to ride using sails?

Betsy: I did. (chuckles)

Me: Well, the last boat I was on was that used a motor.

Betsy: Oh, I’d much rather use my sails. You just lean over with the wind, and it pushes you along.

Me: Well, my friend Lisa doesn’t think old sails are any good. She likes new modern sciencey machines and stuff like that.

Betsy: (giggles) As long as you’ve got sails, you can always get somewhere. The wind will blow sooner or later.

Me: I’ll remember that.

A FEW DAYS LATER

(I’m going to see Betsy and Rednose again. When I get to the dock, I find that Rednose isn’t in her usual spot. I look around and see Rednose in a repair dock on the other side of the docking area. I go over there and find Betsy looking worried. I come up to her.)

Me: Hi, Betsy!

Betsy: (sighs sadly) Hi, Nolan.

Me: W-What’s the matter?

Betsy: My dad said Rednose needed some repairs. They’re giving her a new radio. (shows the radio on Rednose’s mast) It’s supposed to help us send or hear messages from anywhere.

Me: Well, look on the bright side. Now Rednose is like a brand new modern ship! Isn’t that cool?

Betsy: (getting angry) No, it’s not cool! Old ships don’t need these new-fangled things! Rednose and I were sailing on the high seas before these kinds of radios were even thought of!

Me: Oh. Right. Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.

Betsy: (sigh) It’s okay. I’m sorry I snapped at you.

Me: It’s fine. (just then I notice something, I take a closer look at Rednose and notice there’s a big red shape underneath Rednose’s hull.) Whoa! There’s more of Rednose under the water than on top of the water. Is that a new feature as well?

Betsy: (laughs) No, that’s as old as Rednose is. The red shape is the secret of sailing. One Rednose is back in the water, I’ll show you how it works.

A FEW MINUTES LATER

(Rednose is back in the water, and Betsy and I are on her.)

Betsy: OK, now let’s say that a big powerful wind is blowing on the sails.

(Just then a wind does come and it blows on Rednose’s sails, but instead of moving sideways. Rednose moves straight forward.)

Me: (surprised) Wow.

Betsy: You see? Even if the wind blows against Rednose’s side, the red shape under the water makes me move straight ahead.

Me: Cool.

(Cuts to me getting off Rednose and saying goodbye to Betsy)

Me: Man, I wish I could sail like that. It’s so much fun!

Betsy: Oh, when the wind is your friend, you probably could, a little.

(She sails off, while waving goodbye to me. Just then Lisa comes up)

Lisa: Nolan! Nolan! Nolan!

Me: What is it, Lisa?

Lisa: Look at the amazing discovery I found with my depth sounder! (holds up a green and yellow striped cloth) It was underneath the water at the pond in our park!

Me: Yeah. Your machine really can find cool stuff.

Lisa: I’m going back to another water area to find some more interesting discoveries. Wanna come?

Me: (watching Betsy and Rednose) Uh, thanks for the invite Lisa, but I think I’m gonna stay here for a while.

Lisa: Eh, suit yourself. (She leaves)

THE NEXT DAY

(I’m just arriving at Rednose’s dock, but she and Betsy aren’t there. Just then, I hear a really loud noise. It reveals to be Betsy and Rednose sailing in. The noise is coming from the radio. Betsy looks really sad.)

Me: Hey Betsy! Wow, Rednose sure is loud today.

Betsy: Yeah, it’s all my stupid radio’s fault! It makes too much noise! Sailing ships are supposed to be as quiet as the sea breeze, but this radio, Rednose sounds like a big storm!

Me: Well, you don’t have to turn it up all the way all the time, just when you’re far away from who you wanna talk to. Do you have a back up radio?

Betsy: (looks around and finds the back up radio) Yes, I do.

Me: Well, give it to me. I’ll help you practice. (She gives the radio to me) Now, I’ll go over to that spot, and you stay here. (I run back to the entrance of the docking area with the radio. I turn it on speak into it.) Can you hear me, Betsy?

Betsy: (shouting into her radio) HELLO, NOLAN! I HEAR YOU!

Me: (with my ears ringing) Betsy, you don’t have to shout to make yourself heard. That’s what the radio’s for. (I back up on go on the steps; speaking into the radio) Can you hear me, now?

Betsy: (in her radio) Loud and clear!

Me: You’ve got it, Betsy! Now, I’m gonna go really, far away. Like, over the hill, and even though we won’t see each other, we’ll still be able to communicate. (I run over the hill; into the radio) Calling Betsy on radio!

Betsy: (on her radio) I hear you, Nolan!

(Meanwhile, on the other side of the hill, in another watery area. Lisa is exploring with a metal boat she made, and using her depth sounder. But then, Lisa notices something tugging her boat from behind. Next thing she knew, she was stuck in some seaweed that had wrapped itself around the boat propeller, so the boat can’t move anymore.)

Lisa: Uh-oh. I wasn’t prepared for this, I think I need help. (Just then she notices me coming down) Nolan! Nolan, over here!

Me: (noticing her) Lisa, what are you doing?

Lisa: I was using my new depth sounder, but then I got stuck in some seaweed that was in the water. Now my boat is unable to move. I require urgent assistance.

Me: Uh-oh! OK, think, Nolan. What can I do to help Lisa? (gets an idea) Oh! I’ve got it! (to Lisa) Lisa, why don’t you sail out of there?

Lisa: Sail? Nolan, you know this boat can’t sail!

Me: Well, you can use that green and yellow cloth you found!

Lisa: (Unsure) OK, I guess it’s worth a try.

(A few seconds later, Lisa has tied the mask to the top of her boat, and then the wind starts to push on the boat.)

Lisa: (gasps) Gadzooks! I’m moving! It’s working!

(Lisa’s boat starts moving out of the seaweed, but then…)

Me: Uh, Lisa, look out!

(Lisa’s boat is about to hit the rocky shores, and without the propeller, Lisa can’t turn around.)

Lisa: HELP! I’M GOING TO CRASH!

Me: (panicking) Oh man, this is not good! This is really really not good! Is there who has a really fast ship that can stop another boat? (I gasp) Betsy and Rednose!

(Meanwhile, Betsy is sailing along, when she gets a call from me on her radio.)

Betsy: (answering) Hello?

Me: (voice) Betsy, it’s me, Nolan! There’s no time to explain! One of my friends is in trouble! I need your help to rescue her!

Betsy: Don’t worry, Nolan. I’m on my way!

(Meanwhile, Lisa is almost near the shore.)

Lisa: (giving up hope) Goodbye, cruel world!

(I’m really nervous, when suddenly, Betsy wooshes past with Rednose. I watch as they race towards Lisa’s boat. Rednose sails in a graceful arc, and comes alongside Lisa’s boat.)

Betsy: (to Lisa) Turn your sail, the other way!

(Lisa does this, and the wind does the rest. It pushes Lisa’s boat away from the shore, and just in time.)

Lisa, Betsy and I: Hooray!

(Cuts to a few minutes later, where the three of us are heading back to the dock, Betsy is driving rednose, with me and Lisa also on board. Lisa’s boat is being pulled by Rednose. I’m introducing Lisa and Betsy to each other.)

Me: Betsy, this is my friend Lisa, who I was telling you about. Lisa, this is my new friend Betsy.

Lisa: Greetings, Betsy. Lisa Marie Loud. Pleased to meet your acquaintance.

Betsy: (laughs) Nice to meet you, too, Lisa.

Lisa: You know, I never got around to saying this. But, I appreciate you saving me from certain doom. How did you know I was in peril?

Betsy: I got a call from Nolan on my radio. You know, I guess new thing are good for something after all.

Lisa: And I believe old things are kind of useful, too. I would really like to learn more about sailing the old way.

Betsy: Sure, I can do that. Can you teach me more about using my new radio?

Lisa: Of course!

(Soon, Lisa and Betsy begin chatting away, while I watch with a smile.)

Me: (to the viewers) Yep, I’m pretty sure both of my friends will have plenty of things to share with each other. New and old.

(Cuts to us sailing back to the dock as the episode irises out.)

THE END