The Voyage of the Frog

David Alspeth, a 14-year-old boy living in Ventura, California, is at the marina, looking at the sailboat that now belongs to him. It was gifted to him by his Uncle Owen, who just passed away after a battle with cancer. David is carrying his uncle’s ashes in a small box. Looking at the sailboat, The Frog, David remembers his uncle fondly and reflects on Owen’s last days in the hospital.

After the cancer was discovered, it spread quickly. One day, David visited Owen and was overcome by how weak and sickly he looked. The smell of Owen’s sickness made David throw up, which embarrassed him. Owen laughed it off and told David that he didn’t have much time left. He announced his intentions to leave David the Frog and David tried to refuse. Owen insisted that the boat now belonged to David. He asked David to sail into the ocean until he could no longer see the land and then scatter his ashes. David agreed.

Now, in the present moment, David boards the Frog and opens the hatch to the cabin, noting how much it smells like Owen.