“Why did you let her bring the jigsaw? We’ll be across before she even gets the lid off.” The passengers lurched as the ferry’s chain engaged.

“It keeps her occupied.”

Margaret up-ended the box so that scraps of leaves and sky and dogs fell under the table. Her father huffed and stared out of the window at the advancing shoreline while she and her mother laughed. There was another jolt so that the standing passengers clung onto each and beer and tea sloshed onto the stained carpet.

“Unfortunately,” announced a disembodied voice “mechanical problems are causing a delay to this crossing.”

***

For those who don’t know how Friday Fictioneers works, this picture, supplied this week by Ted Strutz is our inspiration for our weekly online writing group hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Click here to read other people’s amazing stories or to join in. And please comment below with any suggestions for improvement on mine.