By Tiffin
© 1999 Tiffin, all rights reserved
"God that pipe stinks."
"So?" He said as he steered the old wooden fishing boat.
Anna wrapped the wool blanket closer around her and shifted her gaze away from the wrinkled weathered man. The black water bubbled as they slowly shimmered over the gentle ocean waves.
"So" Blowing a mouth full of smoke her way, "You going to tell me what you were doing out in these parts at this time of night?"
Glaring at him with murderous thoughts Anna just sat.
The old man hummed as he steered slightly to the left following the distant coastline.
"Do you have to smoke that awful thing?"
"Yep."
Looking at the lady next to him, wet hair plastered against her face, her skin white, lips blue and shivering; his heart went out to her. She reminded him of the lost pup he found about 7 months ago after the last series of storms that came up that the weathermen loved to call hurricanes.
"Yep, it kills the smell of dead fish." Knocking the pipe against the backside of the wooden trawler, the old man stood, took three steps and fumbled around the side of the boat for a moment, "long as you're here how about giving me a hand for a second?"
"What?" "You're crazy! I don't know anything about boats!" Anna only wanted to jump back in the water and finish what she had started out to do. Although she knew the old man would only haul her back in the boat again. Inconsidered old fool, she thought. Meddling in her business; how dare he interfere with her! Tugging the blanket around her tighter Anna stood and almost tripped over the ropes laying about the boat's bottom.
"Watch them ropes -- hate to have to fish a naked lady out of my crab pots." Chuckling, the old man began pulling the heavy slick wet ropes over the edge of the boat.
"Well now that you're feeling a bit feisty if you go down below, in the closet next to the galley is some of my grandsons clothes, should be about your size." A grin spread across his face as he place the crab pot beside Anna; dripping cold, ocean water over her feet, with two crabs fighting over best position for escape.
With as much dignity Anna could muster she turned, and with a regal air walked to the steps leading down to the galley.
Sighing, halting the tears that begun to fall, Anna looked around the thing the old man had called a galley. To her left was a small counter with a tiny sink, a two burner stove, and an under counter fridge. Straight ahead was a mirrored door, to the right a bed with bookcases above and below it, with a table for two pushed against the side of the bed. Fragrance of coffee filled the tiny cabin. Next to her was a small door, stepping over a sleeping ancient cat, Anna open the door expecting clothes but finding a miniature bathroom. Laughing in-spite of herself; "damn, that has to be the tiniest toilet I have ever seen!"
Taking several steps to the mirrored door Anna found another room. It was about the size of a walk in closet back at the cottage. Hanging was a wide array of clothing. Flannel shirts, jeans, rain slickers, and odd assortment of vests, nets, and fishing gear were stacked against the walls.
Pulling a faded old blue plaid shirt off the hanger and a pair of jeans Anna quickly dropped the wool blanket and placed the warm clothes over her naked body. Stepping back out to the galley as she tucked the shirt into the jeans to assist keeping them up, Anna smelled the hot coffee once more. With a grumble from her tummy, Anna looked through the several cabinets until she found the one with the cups. As she about to pour the coffee, she looked in the mirror; paused for a second; and decided to finger comb her hair.
The noise of the cabinets opening and closing, finally, awoke the sleepy tabby cat. Yawning and standing as he stretched, arched back he sauntered over to Anna, rubbing himself in-between her legs as if she was an old dear friend.
"Hello little puss." Bending over to pat his fluffy head, the cat was faster than lightning with a swat of his paw at her hand. "Ouch!" Anna backed away from the cat, which was now hissing at her. Blood trickled out, the scratch marks barely broke the skin but enough for Anna to become angry. Pouring the hot coffee, she climbed the 4 steps back out to the deck of the boat. Her intent was to tell the old man that his cat was as unfriendly as he was.
The stars were still gleaming in the sky, a soft breeze was blowing from the east, and the old man was once again smoking his blasted pipe. Sighing, Anna sat on the bench next to him, since it was the only area not cluttered with ropes or other items she had no knowledge what they were intended for.
The two crabs were still clawing each other in the wooden crate, jockeying for a better position. Sitting in silence the two humans watched the antics of the crabs; each person lost in their own thoughts.
The water lapped at the sides of the boat. A gentle swaying action reminded Anna of a bassinet a friend used for her baby when painting mountain scenes in oil or watercolors on canvass in the studio back in Savanna.
"So?" Pausing long enough to drag more smoke from the pipe the old man continued, "You ready yet to talk about your little midnight swim, young lady?"