Stormy Day - Her Face Was NOT the Face of Calm!
When she rose from the couch in the lounge, she was clearly in a different mood. She was almost skittish. Unsure, and nervous. She looked at me, as I puttered around in the galley. I was making coffee, and also toasting some morning bolos levedos, a sort of Portuguese version of the English Muffin. I developed a taste for them, back on the tip of Cape Cod, surrounded by hundreds of Portuguese fishermen’s families.
“Coffee? A Muffin?” I held up the flat Bolo. She nodded. I could tell something was off, but also, not knowing her, I waited, clearly letting her take herr time. Something was wrong, but, she needed space and to figure it our for herself. 15 minutes later, coffee in, and a little breakfast of the muffin and some fruit, she was clearly psyching herself up for saying something.
“I need to ask you something…” I stopped what I was doing. The tone in her voice, clear. Nerves. Upset. “What did you do last night?” I was confused.
“I don’t know what you mean..?” in all seriousness, I had no idea what she meant. I had a few guesses as to what she wanted to say, but that wasn’t one of them.
“I woke. On the couch. Undressed.” She said, as she looked down at her own shirt. “I didn’t do that myself. I wouldn’t. Tell me what happened?”
The joke at the tip of my tongued died in a split second. Not now, this wasn’t the time. I grabbed my drink, came around the counter and sat in a chair in the lounge, pointing to one opposite me. I was learning, perhaps, she might be as mercurical as the Sea herself?
“Let me say, first, NOTHING happened. Not really, I…”
“My shirt was untucked and unbuttoned. That’s not nothing.” She interrupted.
“I gave you a back massage, and your hands, that’s all that happened. I swear it, on my honor. NOTHING happened. I never touched you anywhere else, but your back, arms and hair.” I was shocked by her demeanor. In fact, surprised was the expression that flashed in my head. “Nothing.”
She sat and waited.
“I will tell you this, as long as you are on my boat, nothing… NOTHING will happen to you, that you do not want to happen. You are safe here, on my boat. Completely, and utterly safe. I will do NOTHING, to ever allow you to be harmed. Not me, nor anyone else. Nothing.” I don’t know what she believed or not, but that out of thee way, I continued.
“We had a good day, and one you were NOT used to. We did a lot, learned a lot. You are picking this up fast, and understand it. Good student, but, it’s not easy. No… it’s hard work, and you’re not used to it.”
“Bully for you!” I help up a hand to stop her interruption, “I don’t mean it like that. It’s a different kind of work. Your hands were sore, I literally fed you last night myself.” I could see recognition, creeping slowly in. “After dinner, I sat you down, and massaged your hands. I was using that," I pointed to the bottle on the shelf across the way behind the couch she slept on, “on your hands, and clearly, from your reaction it felt good. I kept working your tired muscles, and continued over your shoulders. I didn’t want to get the oil on your shirt, and untucked it, unbuttoned, too.” Herr face was giving in to it… I could see her eyes drift off, slowly remembering.
"At some point, I moved you face down, lying on the couch, and finished off your back.” I could see slow nods, as I recalled each part of the night.
“Done, I put the fleece over you, you were OUT cold, and clearly asleep. I didn’t have the heart to wake you. As I rose, I did manage to slip a tiny kiss on you, but that’s it, nothing. No touching or taking advantage. I take my captain’s job seriously. I’m no Bully Boy. Being Captain is important.”
I stopped, and let it sink in. “Let me say, we don’t know each other, but Honor and Respect are important to me. I have no idea who you met before, but not me. Period. I am a man of my word. Officer and Gentleman if you will.”
Finished, I stood and moved back to the galley to clean up. I stopped, turned back, and said, “I mean it. Honor and Respect. You have mine. Nothing happens to you, here, that you do not want. Period.”
Finally finished in my Bully Pulpit,
I made my way up to the pilot house, in my own mood, now!
This is for FREEWRITE with @Marianne West.
The Freewrite Prompt is: Bully!
A captain aboard ship is sometimes known as Bully Boy.
A Bully can also be someone who is Mean and cruel.
In some parts of the world, Bully! can mean good!
As in Bully For You! and lastly, Bully Pulpit,
is a place where one figuratively or literally climbs up to preach good, to others.
The Image is my own, A Stormy Sea!
Ch. 11 Rough hands
Ch. 10 After Midnight
Ch. 9 Bored Stiff
Ch. 8 Sheep In Wolf's Den
Ch. 7 Let Loose All Dock Lines
Ch. 6 Pearls And A Tan
Ch. 5 The Whole Shebang!
Ch. 4 Peals Of Laughter
Ch. 3 I Can't Help Falling In Love
Ch. 2 All Curves, and a Dream
Ch. 1 Navigating Life With Dad
This post is an entry into MarianneWest's 5 Minute Freewrite!
I feel I cheated somewhat, as I went well over the 5 Minute... but,
I adhere to the spirit... sit down and write. Let it flow.
Anyone can enter, check out her link and Let your inner creative self WRITE!
Always, I strive to give back
To the animals and birds around me
to put more plants in than I take out
And be a good steward for the world around me!
All Photos by Bluefin Studios unless specified.
Story first published by me, on On Uptrennd
