Daring the Deep: Callie's Unexpected Journey

"I'm going to find the end of the world!"

Callie Cyprus ran down the green hillside towards her home, holding the helmet over her head. She had just returned from a walk out at sea when she found it. Delighted with her discovery, she was filled with an excitement that was hard to contain. Her parents would be so proud that she had finally grown up and could serve as an active member of their community. They would be even more proud when she returned, having found the end of the world!

As she came into view of her house, she could see her father tending to his fields. He looked up, noticing her running across the field towards him. As soon as he saw what she held in her hands, he threw down his shovel and walked quickly towards her.

"What is that?" he asked angrily, "Did you steal it?"

"No," Callie replied, "I found it at the beach."

"Oh no," he said, "Oh no! Why? Why did you take that?"

"It's for looking for things in the water," she explained, "I'm going to find the end of the world."

"No!" he exclaimed, "You can't leave! You're only a child! You don't know what's out there. You'll never come back!" His voice started to tremble as he spoke. He put his hand on top of her head and pulled her toward him. "Never come back," he whispered into her ear. Tears began to stream down his face and soak into Callie's hair. She smelled his sweat and felt his breath on her neck as he held onto her tightly. She felt him shudder against her body so violently that it felt like he might fall over with weakness. "Never come back," he whispered again.

Callie had seen this reaction before; it happened whenever something bad happened in their small village. Whenever one person died or someone left without saying goodbye or when a ship went missing at sea, everyone got sad like this and cried a lot until they were better again. She held still in her father's arms until he stopped shaking and let go of her gently.

"Well," said Callie brightly, "I've got to go find to find out what's at the end of the world now." She turned around and headed back towards the hillside where she had first found the helmet. Before beginning the steep climb up to its peak, she turned around one last time to wave goodbye to her father who stood watching sadly from below.