Week 1 Storytelling: New Year~New Possibilities

“I saw three ships come sailing by,

Come sailing by, come sailing by;

I saw three ships come sailing by,

On New Year's Day in the morning.”

It was in the wee hours of the morning that I saw three ships come sail by.  I was on my way home from celebrating the fact that a New Year had started when I saw them.  I had been pondering what this New Year would bring my surroundings, and me so when I saw the three ships I wondered if this was what the New Year was transporting to me, I immediately became interested with the ships and waited for them to come ashore. 

(Three ships-Google) 

This New Year’s Day was cold with winds as strong as Chicago’s.  So as I patiently waited there, hoping that maybe one of these ships had sunshine and warmth.  But that couldn't possible be everything that lay upon these ships, what more could there be?

Could there be happiness with dancing? Or rain and sadness, oh I hope not! The ships got closer and closer, if I squint my eyes I could maybe make something out of them.  I squinted as tight as I could to try and make something out, but still couldn't figure it out. 

The morning was coming to an end and I had missed breakfast, therefore I was hungry for lunch, I have never heard my stomach growl so loudly.  I then wished for food to be on one of the ships.  A ship full of fruit would be so tasty, or even better a ship full of sweats to take care of my sweat tooth for the year. 

The closer and closer the ships got the bigger they appeared to be.  What if there are giant animals to be brought for the New Year. Animals like elephants that we could ride to get from place to place. 

“And what do you think was in them then,

Was in them then, was in them then?

And what do you think was in them then,

On New Year's Day in the morning?”

My excitement was overflown as the ships started to reach land.  I just couldn't wait to see what would come off, to start the New Year with.  The ships landed one right after another.  The first ship had mounds of wood and paint on it, the second had any type of tool you might use for all that wood and paint.  The third ship had one man on it; I asked him what is it you are going to do with all this wood and paint? And he told me that he is going to start fresh and use the tools to create a new life, and then he asked me to join him. Of course I said yes, as New Year equals new beginnings. 

Author’s Note. This story strays away from the original nursery rhyme “Three pretty girls were in them then”.  The original rhyme ends with three women on the ships that each contains different talents, whistling, singing, and playing the violin.  I decided to look more at the fact that the rhyme talked about a New Year, and I wanted to incorporate that a New Year can bring new possibilities.  I also wanted to point out that your options are endless when wanting a fresh start, the person in the story never stopped imaging what could be on those ships, and I believe that showed hope for a new beginning. 

Bibliography.  This story is based on the nursery rhyme “Three pretty girls ere in them then” on The Nursery Rhyme Book edited by Andrew Lang