This one will take a teeny bit of explanation. In 2011, after I finished writing “Lucky Penny,” I apparently had another burst of creativity. An idea came to me that I liked so much that, even if I had already written the story for that year, I simply had to put to (digital) paper before I lost it. Oh sure, I could have put it aside and waited to debut it the next Christmas, but that isn’t really in the spirit of my little project.
“Stowaway” is a different kind of story for me. I don’t often write period pieces, and I certainly don’t attempt to write in period style, but I did the best I could here. This is one of those stories where, if I did what I wanted, the reader will actually have a better handle on what’s going on than our narrator. I like stories like that.
Blake M. Petit 
Interesting story, thanks for sharing…good seasonal story for Christmas. I must confess a couple of things that struck me as troubling. Did people living in the gulf region really hope to see the Northern Lights? I’m not saying it is unheard of, but actually seeking them?
The other concern is the handgun. In 1821, it is likely to be a flintlock, single shot, and perhaps not very threatening. On a ship tossing on the seas, probably very likely ineffective. Unless she carried a mor modern weapon… but would he even recognize that if she held it?
Still, I quibble, and I am not an expert on either point.
Cheers
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Thanks for commenting, Chuckster! As far as your points — I hoped to express that other people thought he was bonkers for expecting the Aurora so far down south, but coming from his perspective, that may not have been clear.
As for the gun question, I’m not an expert either, and you may well be right.
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