Stranger Danger

May 19th 2025

The day on the Chasing Destiny began with a refreshing, if slightly abrupt, cold shower for Brandy, a necessary shock to the system to shake off the morning grogginess. Meanwhile, on the back deck, Katniss was already in full “old lady yelling at neighborhood kids” mode, barking indignantly at other dogs in the distance, presumably for making too much racket. Brandy emerged from the shower, fully briefed by Katniss’s reports on the morning’s canine comings and goings.

Later, a voice carried across the water, “Is anyone on board?” Brandy heard it a few times before stepping out to greet the stranger. It turned out to be Joe, a pilot friend of Greg’s, who was impressively struggling against the current on a paddleboard. He was incredibly graceful, a stark contrast to how Brandy imagined she’d fare. “If that were me,” she thought, “I’d be in the water constantly.” Joe provided a treasure trove of information for their upcoming Bahamas adventure, a real boon for their trip planning. Brandy was 99.9% sure his name was Joe, which, on a boat, is practically a certainty.

That evening, as dusk settled, another voice echoed from shore. “How do these mooring balls work?!” a man yelled, clearly perplexed. Brandy, cupping her hands, shouted back the instructions as loudly as she could. The man seemed happy with the information, giving a thumbs-up before disappearing into the fading light. Brandy couldn’t help but wonder if they’d soon have new neighbors moored alongside them, perhaps a little wiser about nautical hardware thanks to her impromptu shouting lesson.