My Journal

By Harriman Nelson

7. Champing at the Bit

I could tell Lee was irritated as he paced about in the Observation Nose. It wasn’t  that Lee really wanted anything to do with our latest adventure, but he was anxious to get it over with, and we’d been waiting in Boston longer than expected.

“Miss Bates must have been delayed in traffic,” I said, ‘lighting up’ my electronic cigarette.

“Those things really help?” Lee asked as he sat on the edge of the table. (In all my years of knowing Lee, it always amazed me that he seemed to prefer to rest his rear on a hard table or desktop, rather than in a soft or cushioned chair.)

“Will says they can help my ‘oral fixation’. I’m sure you don’t want cookie crumbs or little cellophane wrappers from Life Savers scattered all over the place.”

“If they’ll keep you from raiding the cookie jar, I’m sure the crew will be happy. And Chip,” he added as he looked askance at the man in question who was speaking with O’Brien in the Control Room.

 “Visitors topside,” Morton called out.

“Duty calls,” Lee said, and rose. “Coming?”
“Wouldn’t miss piping Miss Bates aboard for anything.”

“I just hope she found something useful.”

“Permission to come aboard?” Miss Bates called down as she climbed down the ladder, “at least I think that’s what I’m supposed say.”

“Miss Bates,” Lee took her hand, “welcome aboard. This is Commander Chip Morton….”

 “Chipee! Oh yes, it’s so good to meet you at long last!” she kissed him on the check, then began to search around in her tote bag for something, coming up empty.

“Chipee?” Morton mouthed to Lee, scowling.

“By the way,” Miss Bates continued, “I understand congratulations are in order on your recent adoption Captain Nelson-Crane.”

Suddenly she looked up the ladder, “Did you remember the Dramamine?”

“Oh swell,”a familiar voice replied. “You were supposed to bring it.”

I couldn’t help notice that Lee had leaned against the sonar console for support, pale.

“How the heck am I supposed to climb down there on these narrow little rungs?”

“Oh come on, it’s not that difficult,” Miss Bates called up, “you’re not that old and decrepit.”

One leg, than another took the way down, finally stepping on deck.

“Mother?” Lee asked, taking control of himself. “What are you doing here?”

 “I’m Bates’ traveling companion if it’s any of your business, Captain Nelson-Crane. Now, if you’ll have someone show us to our cabin?”

“Really Mrs. C,” Miss Bates said. “He’s the captain. Of course it’s his business. You’ll have to forgive her captain. She’s a little grumpy after… helping me with my research.”

“Ski?” Lee turned to the crewman.

“Aye sir…this way, ladies.”

As soon as they were out of earshot, Lee turned to his XO, “What the blazes is this all about?”

“Chipee? Chipee?” Morton hissed at the same time, reminding me of a fire breathing dragon. “You told her my name was Chipee?”

“What difference does that make? It just slipped when we were here before. Before you got all hot and bothered about things, okay? It was only  a term of affection, remember? At least it was then.”

“You were drunk when you coined it!”

“So I was drunk! I don’t see what harm there is in it, but if you wish, I’ll advise her not to use it while she’s aboard. Now, why is my mother here?”

“You approved a traveling companion for Miss Bates a couple of weeks ago, didn’t you? Someone she knew, with the same interests? Your mother or not, she was the best candidate for the job.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” Lee spat. “And you should have kept me in the loop.”

“Just like you kept me in the loop the last time you were here?”

“Boys!” I hissed, “this is not the time or place. You can at least be civil toward one another while we have guests. I hope that’s understood.”

“Aye sir,” Chip said.

“Lee?” I asked.

“Understood. Commander,  as soon as Edith’s back from Dairy Queen, prepare to get underway,” he said as he headed aft.

“She went to Dairy Queen?” I asked of no one in particular, “I knew she wanted to do a little shopping, get a few more clothes from her townhouse, but…”

“She said, er…”O’Brien began.

“Well?” I asked.

“That  it was so chilly between them that she might as well go get a ‘Blizzard’ to add to the frost around here. Her exact words sir. No offence.”

“So noted. I’ll be aft.”

“Want to talk about it?” I asked as soon as I entered Lee’s cabin. I was right that he was upset, if the spilled Glen Livet he’d pilfered from my cabin meant anything.

“He did it deliberately.”

“You know, Lad, Chip just might have asked Miss Bates who she wanted when he was arranging things.”

“Maybe,” he said and downed another shot, straight from the bottle.

“Go easy on that stuff.”

“Sorry.”

“You can always renege on the name, Lee,” I said quietly for the umpteenth time.

“We’ve been through this how many times, Harry? Why should I give up your name? I’m proud to be a Nelson now. And a Crane. There is absolutely no reason why I can’t be both, aside from what  my mother and the president seem to think.”

 I couldn’t argue with that, and took the bottle out of Lee’s hand and took a slug, handing it back to him.

“No, I think I’ve enough. Don’t want to give my mother any more ammunition.”

It wasn’t long before Lee resumed the conn, and Seaview cleared the harbor. As captain, Lee invited the guests to the Observation Nose for our fast approaching descent, always a show stopper for most visitors.

Edith was already there, happily downing her ‘Blizzard’ when Lee joined us.

“Mrs. Crane won’t be joining us for the view, captain,” Miss Bates explained her absence. “I’m sure she’s just a little seasick.”

“On a submarine?” I could hear Ski snort from the Control Room.

“Oh..yes, of course, how foolish of me,” Miss Bates said, flustered.

Lee clicked the intercom, “Prepare to dive.”

“Aye sir,” Morton’s voice acknowledged.

As soon as the ‘Christmas Tree’ was all green and the XO ordered “Dive, Dive, Dive,” we were greeted to the splash of bubbles and awesome beauty below that I know I’ll never get tired of.