"Rain"

She set out from her seaside home to clear her mind from the day's haul. So focussed on being in her kayak, alone and away, she had not given a thought to wearing anything more than an old one-piece her favorite cap, and a fadded life vest. The water was calm and the air warm. The aquaculture boats were in. The ferry would not be back for a few hours. It was just her and the cold, comforting waters of the Bay of Fundy.

Passing Stanley Beach, the porch light flickered on at the The Compass Rose. Around the warf. She was happy to have been chosen as one of the crew to work Jerry's boat this season. He only brought on competant fishermen: no first-timers from St. John who can't keep on their feet or pick them up when the traps are being tossed. By the ferry terminal a wry smile appeared on her face along with a slow shake of her head. "Why did I agree to strip the lines from the ferry props this weekend?" She mused, then laughed. "'Cause I'm the only one on this island right now with a dry suit."

Bev is the kind of person you can count on. And at one time or another, everyone on the island has. Doesn't matter the situation or the task. If all you needed was a fill-in she'd probably laugh at you for wasting your time asking. But if the job needed to be done, and needed to be right, the list was short and her name was always on top.
The light from Swallow Tail Lighthouse caught her eye as she rounded the rocks to Pettes Cove. Echos rolled across the water from two boys catching crabs along the beach. The tide here is so dramatic. One wave will spill over a boulder and the next will be half a meter below.
"Probably Jane's kids." She thought. "I need to remember to ask Mrs. Barlow if they turned in their homework I assigned while she was out. And they'll probably claim it got wet."

The water rose gently as a wave passed underneath. On the backside the boat hit a rock jolting her into the moment. She paddled a bit away from the cliff without much concern. She knew every boulder well enough to navigate by the stars.
"That one isn't a rock." She thought jokingly as a seal surfaced just five meters away. Then another and two more ahead. The curving fish pens here make for easy meals..."so long as Dan isn't protecting them with his father's Cooey."
Around the point she stared out to the East. Beyond the horizon was Nova Scotia and the town of Bigsby. There she had been offered a job on-share for the season, but that meant living away from Grand Manan. If she were going to do that she'd rather be further away. Much further. 
"I need to check flight schedules again for Cuba. And ask Maria if they have found an apartment."

The long shadows cast on the water by the high cliffs of North Head fadded as the sun disappeared to the West. The stars were out in full force now; millions of dots undimmed on account of the new moon. There were no other lights around, save for a few fishing boats in the distance and the regular interval of Swallow Tail Lighthouse from behind.

In the darkness she watched her paddle move; churning the bioluminescence. Sparks scattering under water. She dipped the other end in and stired the fire. She sat back and smiled. So peacefull. So beautiful. The boat genty swayed. Waves lapped on rocks at the bottom of the cliff. 
Looking up she could barely find the constillations for the brightness of all the accompanying stars. She recounted a conversation with her host family in South Korea. How they'd sat in wounder and amazement at her description of the Heavens as she knew them at home.

Subtle drops of water could be heard in the distance. A small wave of rain overtook the boat. That sudden chill made her sit up strait and paddle a few strokes.
Another wave of rain passed and she decided it was time to head back. But something seemed amiss. There were no clouds. Why was it raining? How?
Just then she could hear a wave of pelting rain approaching out of the darkness. It enveloped her and seemed to stall. She would surely be freezing by the time she made it home. All around were tiny specs of light from the agitated water.

But wait? Her head and shoulders were not getting wet.
Those drops are too big to be rain.
Though it was dark, she could just see the small fish jumping from the water and landing on her boat. She was surrounded by thousands of herring jumping out of the water. A school that seemed to find safety around and on her.
She laugh out loud. "This is crazy" as one nearly slipped down her suit.
A chill ran down her spine. Hairs stood on end. "This is not good."
When the herring run it's usually because something is chasing them. Something large.
If its a shark, that's ok. They are aware of their surroundings and will avoid her.
If it's a whale...
She began paddling with growing concern.
But what seemed a safe direction at first was taking her closer to the rocks. At any moment a wave could lower her onto one and tip her into the freezing water.
The herring dispersed and for a moment all was silent. The light from Swallowtail passed lighting the cliff face; a bit too near now.
She stopped...unsure which direction to go.
Without warning came the abrupt expulsion of air from a blowhole. She was showered. A single moment in time being both terrified and exhilarated.
She should move away. But hitting the whale with the paddle could cause it to move suddenly. Being so large, any movement would sink her.
The light came round again. Another moment. A split second: of both time and space. Burned in her mind forever. The whale had risen and turned slightly on its side. An eye as big as the blade of her paddle staired at her from not two meters away. And then darkness.
She sat. Motionless. Smiling. Fearing. Waiting. Time stood still.
The light came round again. The whale was gone. No sound. No movement upon the water.
Had she been that close to such a magnificent creature? Had she seen what she thought she saw? Only the stars had paid witness to the moment. She sat lost in the dream.
"There is no place in earth I'd rather be."
She began paddling home; judging the distance from the cliff each time a light allowed.
Not a care in the world.