My Journal

By Harriman Nelson

4

“Ready for your call, sir,” Sparks informed me while I was having a snack in the Nose.

“Thank you,” I replied and turned on the videophone and entered the number. I couldn’t help feeling that I was intruding in Lee’s life.

But there was no answer, so I had Sparks try Lee’s office. (It was a safe bet he was there.) But the call was routed to security, which confirmed that he hadn’t shown up at the gate yet.

My last resort was his cell phone. I know most everyone uses them now, but I’ve always hated them, and I know that Lee’s not exactly partial to them either. Even if we’re both on the no call list for telemarketers, some still manage to get through. I ask you, do I really need a reverse mortgage? In any case, there was no answer and it went to his voice mail, but I decided not to leave a message.

 “No luck?” Chip asked, joining me, and seeing my frustration.

“Well, maybe he’s in the bathroom.”

“Maybe.”

“Excuse me, sirs,” Riley approached, “me and the guys, like, have been wondering…will we get shore leave in Tokyo?”

“Well,” Chip replied, “that depends. I’m disappointed in everyone’s response time to our maneuvers. I’m not sure a reward is in order.”

“But it’s not us, sir. It’s Seaview. She’s like, a bit sluggish, but nothing we can pin down. It’s like…well…it’s like she misses the skipper,” he said in all seriousness.

I raised my eyebrow and saw Chip struggling to keep a straight face.

“I guess I’d better make allowances, then,” he said, “ but keep on top of things, just in case it’s a mechanical problem.”

“Right, sir,” the youngster said with a grin and departed.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Chip couldn’t help laughing.

“Call coming through for you, Admiral,” Sparks called out. “On the videophone in the nose. From the skipper.”

“Thank you….no, Chip, you don’t have to leave….”

“Admiral?” Commander  Jackson asked as he came into view, “did you try to call earlier? We’ve been on the beach.  Hey, Lee, get your butt over here. It’s your boss, er, your dad!” he shouted toward the kitchen.

“Ow!” Lee responded.

“What now?” he called out, turning toward the kitchen (which we couldn’t see). “Put some ice on that burn!”

“I’m fine,” Lee’s voice responded.

“Yeah, sure. Hang on a sec, Admiral, a little  domestic issue has arisen,” Jackson said and disappeared from view.

It was an interesting view of Lee’s living room. Normally tidy, if rather Spartan, it was cluttered with Chinese take-out boxes, a half open pizza box, and more than a few cans of beer. The sunlight was streaming though the open sliding glass doors and we could glimpse beach towels dripping on the patio facing the shore.

“Harry?” Lee asked, coming into view, using his stick and pieces of furniture to guide himself. His hair was a mass of sopping wet curls, and he was wearing old Naval Academy sweats, damp spots from his own dip in the sea, I figured. He also sported a  small bandage on his index finger. “What’s wrong?” he demanded.

“Nothing’s wrong!” I said, exasperated. “I just wanted to say hello.”

“Oh. How are things going?”

“Fine, fine…looks like you’ve been eating well.”

“I thought Chip was the master of the bottomless pit, but Joe’s proved me wrong. In fact, he’s trying to talk me into going with him on that gastronomic tour of Europe. ‘Mrs. Piccadilly’s Culinary  Tour’. It starts in a couple of days, and I’ve been thinking about it. Is it okay with you?”

“You actually want to go?” Chip asked.

“Chip? Why didn’t you say you were on the line. Report, mister…I mean please report, Captain.”

“All things nominal, except for a little sluggishness.”

“Oh.”

“You don’t seem surprised.”

“You’ve probably forgotten to pat her bulkhead and give her a kiss,” Lee said.

Chip and I laughed. But Lee wasn’t.

“You’re not serious, are you, Lee?” Chip asked.

“She has to feel loved, my baby…er…your baby.”

“ ‘Our’ baby,” Chip said.

“Anyway, I’m sure Ames can handle things while I’m gone,” Lee said, “but I’ll have to delay a couple of meetings and…”

“No problem, Lad,” I said, “in fact, if I weren’t busy, I’d join you. You two go and enjoy yourselves.”

“Thanks. Joe insists that nobody can get decent Fish & Chips outside of England.”

“Or Wiener Schnitzel outside of Germany,” Jackson said.

“The real reason he Joe suggested I go with him, is that he’s afraid of being surrounded by mostly fat Americans smacking their lips, burping,  and embarrassing our country the whole time! He needs me for contrast.”

“Commander Jackson,” I said, “if you can get Lee to eat more than a couple of pieces of toast and drink less than a gallon of coffee a day, you’ll deserve a medal.”

“By the way, Chip,” Lee said, “make sure the crew is educated in Japanese customs. We don’t want to shame Seaview or our country.”

“Sure thing, skipper,” Chip said.

“’Skipper’? I thought I told .…”

“You told the chief to call me that; you didn’t tell me not to call you that. Besides, I’ve rescinded your…suggestion. And before you complain, I’m in command of Seaview right now, so the buck stops with me about honoring any traditional nomenclature or not.”

“My, my, what a big word,” Lee said then, “seriously, Chip, I’d really prefer if you’d accept it.”

“Not now. And that’s final.”

“We’ll want your itinerary, Lee,” I changed the subject.

“Want to check up on me, that it?” he grinned.

“We simply need to know where you are. Standard  Operating Procedures for all NIMR employees as you well know.”

“Yeah, I know. But all I do is drive a desk. The Navy can’t exactly call me up for emergency duty.”

“I know that, son. I just can’t help, well, being concerned about you while you’re away. That’s all.”

“Harry, how many times do I have to tell you…”

“It’s not because of your condition. It’s because you’re my son and I love you, okay? Most families want to know where their family members are, don’t they?”

Just then a timer dinged.

“What’s that for?” Joe asked Lee.

“Frozen waffles for lunch. Used the toaster this time instead of the toaster oven that you burned them in before.”

“So,” I asked, “where are you stationed now, Joe?” I asked, using his first name, unusual for me to use, but thought it was appropriate due to the circumstances.

“Alaska.”

“Brrrr,” Lee grinned. “At least he’s free of a certain admiral we all know and love.”

“Lee,” I warned, “Jiggs isn’t that bad. And he’s retired now.”

“Be sure you remember to send that tour’s itinerary to Sparks,” Chip ordered. “I’d like to track your progress and get your opinion of some of the dishes.”

“Well, when I do, please don’t drool on my nice clean deck….your deck.”

“Lee…”

“Sorry. Well, Joe’s tummy is rumbling so the sooner I get him to eat his waffles, the sooner I can toast my  Peanut Butter and Banana sandwich.”

“Elvis lives,” Joe said, "Lee, Lee, Lee, that's one of the reasons you really do need this culinary tour.”

“Harry,” Lee said, “you might want to tell Doc that I expect to gain a few pounds since Joe’s bound to force feed me.”

“He’ll be delighted I’m sure,” I said. “Take care, Lee. Send us some postcards.”

“We’ll do that,” Jackson said. “Maybe ship you some honest to God truffles as well.”

“Truffles?” Lee asked, confused.

“Ascomycota fungus,” Jackson answered.

“Ick!”

“It’s kind of like a mushroom…very exotic, very expensive….”

“And supposed to be very very good,” Chip said.

“Supposed to be? You mean there’s actually a food you’ve never tried?” Lee asked, pretending to be aghast.

“Very funny, Lee.”

Just then Jackson’s growling stomach was audible  for all of us.

“I guess that ends the call,” Lee said. “Have a good trip, Harry. Show whatever’s attacking that seaweed what you’re made of.”

“I’ll do that,” I grinned. “Goodbye, son,” I added and clicked off.

“He’s in a good mood,” Chip said, pleased.

“He certainly is. We should be grateful  for Jackson’s influence.”

“You can say that again…I sure hope they remember to send me some truffles.”

As I headed aft, I couldn’t help noticing smiles on the crew’s faces. Of course, they’d probably been able to hear most of our conversation. The skipper was happy.

Happy. That was something I’d been praying for.

I’m not praying for truffles, however.