Manuel Antonio Rebelo, who had the brightest blue eyes and doll like features, grew up a privileged child. He attended a nicer school than his siblings, he had nicer clothes and his mother treated him better than any of the other children. Although Manuel has many more perks than his brothers and sister they do not resent him. Manuel is ashamed of the advantages he has, that his siblings do not receive, which makes his brothers and sisters appreciate him.
Manuel's mother tries to lead Manuel’s life in a different direction than he wants to take. Maria wants for her son to be a man of importance, respected by the entire village but her attempts at giving Manuel the best of life (in her mind) are crushed as like his father, Manuel want to go to sea, see the world and create a life larger than he has in his little town. Manuel wants to be a cod fisherman.
Telling his mother that he is leaving is difficult for him as he knows his mother is still in pain over the loss of Manuel's father- who incidentally died at sea. Although Manuel's mother wishes him not to go to sea she reluctantly gives Manuel his father’s old yellow fisherman jacket and his crucifix necklace for his journey.
Arriving at the docks Manuel knew he would have no family to say goodbye to before his departure. Boarding the Argus Manuel new that he would be risking his life and that was okay because he was following his dream for a new beginning.
Once at sea Manuel begins to learn the hardships of being a fisherman. The brutal sea, motion sickness, the horrible odours and noise and the constant work are just few of the sufferings the men must endure. The only thing keeping most men content is writing home to their families (That and their cigarettes). The worst part of this entire journey was the individual wooden dory's each man was assigned. Each man would be lowered down from the Argus in the morning (a daunting and sometimes even fatal task) to be sent out alone, only cod coming onto their boats. It was a lonesome and dangerous job but Manuel stayed optimistic for one day, after months of being on the ship, the fisherman would break at St. Johns, where Manuel felt his new beginning existed.
After waiting and waiting the ship finally stopped at St.John's. Upon arriving, Manuel knew that that was where he belonged. He was stunned by the amounts of food, clothes and other things to purchase, the shelves of stores packed as full as possible and the display of things he had never seen before. Manuel's excited day filled with many meals, site seeing and a peaceful nap soon came to an end as it was time to aboard the Argus and set off for home.
Unfortunately on Manuel's final day fishing a large wave knocked Manuel off his boat and into the powerful ocean. Gasping for air and hoping for the best Manuel tried to stay calm but he slowly dropped further and further below, no longer attempting to push up through the water.
Just in time, Manuel is dragged up toward the surface caught in a fisherman's net. Manuel hit a hard wooden boat floor to see a toothless man with uneven stubble and his daughter standing next to him. The man’s daughter, Pepsi, is delighted to see Manuel and thanks the lord for her father's catch.
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