The Boat’s last ride. time: 1880s

The day started normal enough. I, as the man privileged to pilot the Petunia on it’s final voyage across the traditional route from Rome to Istanbul across the seas, was refurbishing my dear ship. The Petunia is a long, open-air narrow freshly painted ship with area for 20 men. People say it’s “out of date”- how dare them! The Petunia is fitted with the latest technology: a steamboat rudder.

We had 2 bottles of whiskey and we were on our way. We sang songs and had a wonderful time – shame it was the last time anyone would go on the ship or even look at it. When we arrived at Syracuse on Sicily to refill supplies everyone couldn’t wait to get back on! The atmosphere was so electric that you could power one of Edison’s new-fangled light bulbs. Little did they know that what happened in the next hours could change their lives for worse.

It all went wrong when a gentleman decided to take the wheel and drive the boat. His excuse was that “he wanted to see the Parthenon in Athens.” I replied: “We’re going to go to Athens anyway, so let me pilot there.” He didn’t listen and lunged for the steering wheel. I defended it, and in all the commotion, he fell into the sea. Now we were off course-a lot! We were now heading straight for the dreaded seas where storms struck.

Then the boat and the passengers (including me) are tossed left and right. It is clear we have to leave. We got out of the boat quickly and swam as fast as we could. I looked back and caught a glimpse of the Petunia smashed apart. “No!” I cried. We found refuge on the remote island I call the Petunia after my dear ship. Only god knows how long we’ll be here.

Five years later

Hello! I am the captain of the perilous last voyage of the Petunia, my dear ship. I’ve been stuck with the other passengers on this island. Today is the day we attempt to go back to the mainland.
We built a raft I call the Petunia II. We drove left and right. We met a terrible storm, as terrible as the one that got us into this mess in the first place. Now we are losing control.

We now have control but we can’t see anything. We could be in China for all we know. This is probably the end for us. Wait! What’s that light? It’s coming from this columned structure! It’s the Saint Theodore Lighthouse- constructed by the good citizens of Ancient Greece. We’re saved!