He handed her the dish of vanilla with Hersheys® chocolate sauce he’d scooped for her and said, “I want him to go with me.”
“Who’s ‘him’?” she asked, eyes narrowed.
Steven looked toward the eight-year-old eating ice cream on the floor while reading a comic book.
“Oh, Steven, whatever for?”
“Father-son bonding. A chance for him to see a bit of the world outside of the Philippines. An opportunity for him to see what I do with my life when I’m sailing.” These were all the right answers. They were even the ones he kept telling himself when he asked himself the same question. But they weren’t the complete answer.
“I also need him for cover and for empathy.” That was the rest of the answer. The part that he barely let himself acknowledge. The part he certainly wasn’t going to say out loud.
“Can we talk about it later?” Bettina answered. It was neither an answer nor a question, but Steven was satisfied that at least it wasn’t a no.
Directive from a Mom
Steven negotiated hard for the upcoming contract. It was out of the ordinary, but he was a highly sought-after crew member with a long and impeccable record of on-board service. He received the word of approval ten days prior to the start of the trip.
“Yehey!” He actually said it out loud when he read it.
“What?” Bettina asked him.
“Oh, sorry, just an update about my coming trip,” he answered.
“Oh? I thought that was all set. You’re leaving in ten days, right? Konnor’s been marking days off his calendar for weeks now,” she said.
“Well, yes, it has been all set, but they just approved my itinerary modification request. We’ll get to spend some time in Shanghai,” Steven replied, not looking the mother of his child in the eye.
“I know I agreed to let the two of you do this, Steven, but I expect you to make this trip one that Konnor will never forget,” Bettina stated. “And those memories had better be fond ones.” She didn’t need him to look her in the eye for her directive to feel like it had been etched into his forehead.
Steven got up and went outside to look for his son and give him the good news.
Summer Break
Konnor was counting down five days until freedom. A long time for a young boy to wait for adventure. Third grade was almost over for the summer and his dad had promised him a unique experience between third and fourth grades. Konnor would accompany Steven as a passenger on his upcoming voyage and the two of them would take an extended shore leave in Shanghai before returning to Manila.
Needless to say, Konnor was very excited about getting to travel with his dad on this trip. Generally, Steven spent more than half the year away from home and away from his family. While it was getting easier to stay in touch what with the internet, it was far from a perfect way for a child to stay connected to his dad. Konnor’s dad told him often how much he missed him and his mother.
“Daddy, how much can I pack for our trip?” Konnor asked, as he lay in bed the day after being told the trip was all a go. He was a bit too excited to close his eyes, let alone fall asleep.
“Well, we’ve talked about that, Konnor,” Steve replied, sitting on the edge of his son’s bed. “Your mom and I will make sure you have the right clothes and swimming stuff, but you need to make sure you bring plenty of things to do, because a ship can be a pretty boring place at times.”
“But you said I could work in the kitchen, right? Like Grandpa Gil?” Konnor said, reminding Steven that little kids’ memories could be a bit elephantine.
Steven answered, “I did say that, Konnor, but I also said ‘if I approve of the cook, and if the cook approves of you.’” Pausing for that to sink in, he added, “I think you need to have a few other things to do. I’m pretty sure your mother will make sure you have some school-focused assignments along, so I’d suggest you make sure you bring activities or books you enjoy.”
“Do they have movies on-board, Daddy?” Konnor asked.
“You know they do, Konnor. I’ve told you that, but remember how you don’t always like the same movies as Mom and me? It’s possible you may not like the same movies as the other sailors, either,” Steven answered, quite sure of this statement.
#
“Sit, Oscar, sit,” Konnor said.
The wiry terrier mutt cocked his head, but he quickly sat for the little human. This was the one he adored. Their relationship started out a little shakily because, as was the case with most young boys, Konnor hadn’t practiced much patience before being presented with Oscar. His dad, whom Oscar thought of as his little human’s guardian, had brought the dog home with him when he arrived from an extended sailing trip. Oscar was a puppy and in rough shape.
His little human and the guardian spent the first afternoon with the puppy bathing him in a tic bath. They soaked and scrubbed and brushed and combed, trying to get as many tics to let go and fall off on their own, before resorting to a hot spoon to touch the stubborn tics, making them retract to get away from the heat. The guardian managed the spoon and Oscar shook nervously, but his new little human’s guardian was both steady and gentle. After that his little human had tussled with him in a towel. It was a great game, but the food provider put a stop to it soon after Oscar’s teeth managed to rip a hole in the towel.
Then there was the week of shouted commands and frustrated nips. His little human was a sweet and affectionate playmate, throwing things for Oscar constantly, but he seemed to be easily irritated.
First he would toss a ball to the other side of the room and when Oscar ran and claimed it, the little human would shout, “Come, fetch, bring it back, here, boy, fetch,” and finally chase him around the room until Oscar let himself get caught.
Then came the second torture device around his neck. The first one, the one that went on right after the bath, was bad enough, but there was something about it that made Oscar feel less itchy, so he tolerated it. Well, the second one seemed to be mostly useful for his little human to drag him around with. He’d never been confined to such a small circle before and there was all the incessant “Heel, stay, sit, c’mon, heel, come, heel,” that went along with this device.
Toward the middle of that week the food provider gave his little human a thick wad of paper. Oscar figured out quickly that it wasn’t for chewing on. His little human spent a lot of time looking at it. The little guy would lie on his tummy on the floor, flipping the paper back and forth. This part Oscar enjoyed. He would crawl between his human’s legs and snuggle up against the little pillows halfway down his back. It was a great place to rest…unless the food provider had made beans for lunch.
After a couple days of this more relaxing atmosphere his little human took out the second neck torture device again. “Here, Oscar, come,” he said.
Wait a minute…what was that smell? Oh man, it was food. There was food somewhere. Wait, was it in the little human’s hand? Yes! Yes it was! He made a bee-line for the little human and sniffed and licked the hand that smelled so good. He hardly noticed the second device go over his head.
Just like that, everything was about food. Oscar was happy because he got all these tiny bits of tasty treats. And his little human was happy, too, because Oscar was intent on repeating anything that made him happy, even if it meant learning an entirely new language.
By the time his little human’s guardian left again, Oscar could get treats a dozen times a day, all coming with actions performed after a word from the new language. Sit, stay, come, lay down, heel, off, fetch…they all were good for a bit of tasty rice, a scrap of meat, maybe a green bean…if nothing else, they got him a scratch behind the ears and a “Good boy, Oscar,” which was also nice to hear.
#
The next day, Steven went over the map of the planned voyage one more time with Bettina and their son. Their trip would take them to ports in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and finally Shanghai. They would spend a week in Shanghai and come back to Manila as simple passengers. Steven
almost forgot what had initiated the trip. He was really looking forward to spending time with his son.
“And Mom, there’s this huge Merlion we’ll see in the place where I can’t chew gum!” Konnor was explaining the trip, via tourist attractions, to his mom. “I’ll take a picture of it for you and I won’t even be afraid!”
“I’m sure you won’t be afraid, my little man. Your daddy will make sure you’re one hundred percent safe all this time,” Bettina said, adding for Steven’s benefit, “He knows I’m expecting him to take very good care of you on your adventure.”
“So do I really have to take schoolwork with me, Mommy?” Konnor asked.
“Yes, I’m afraid so, Konnor. But you’ll be happy to know that most of the school stuff I’ve chosen for you will be very important to your trip,” she answered. “Let me show you what I’ve packed.”
Bettina pulled out the package she’d put together to give him some organized learning experiences during the trip. It consisted of three simplified maps. One of the Asian Pacific that included all the locations he and Steven would be visiting, one that she had found of Taiwan, and a last one of the Bund area of Shanghai she had been given by Gilberto. She also included a little pamphlet of boating safety, meant more for outrigger types of boats, but she thought it was relevant, and another on tying knots. Finally, the last items she included were two books that Marge had given them as Christmas presents in past years. One was called ‘Robinson Crusoe’ by Daniel Defoe and the second was called ‘Treasure Island’ by Robert Lewis Stevenson. They were both versions specifically written for younger children, and Bettina had loved reading them because Gilberto had lent them to her mom when Bettina was a child.
Cast Off
Steven didn’t normally work on ships that carried passengers, even though it wasn’t uncommon for freighters to take on a small number of passengers. It took a bit of searching to find an itinerary where everything came together…accommodations, ports, and schedule. Now that the day to leave was upon them, even he was a bit nervous, and he’d been at it for nearly twenty-five years.
“You’ll keep him safe, right?” Bettina said, as she lay beside Steven, both of them waking up while it was still pitch dark out.
“You know I will, Betts. He’s my son. Next to you he’s the most important thing in my life,” Steven answered. “He’ll have a great time. Sailing is in his blood.”
“I know, but I’m his mother. I can’t help but think of everything that can go wrong,” Bettina said as she laid her head against Steven’s chest.
“His granddad was in the Navy, and I’ve sailed all my life. For goodness sakes, Betts, you work at one of the biggest hospitals in Manila,” Steven reminded her. “If anyone knows what can go wrong simply living in this city, it’s you. The sea can be harsh if you don’t respect it, but I didn’t get this far taking chances, Betts. Believe me when I say I won’t start with my son.”
“Okay, okay. Let me get up and make you guys a bite to eat before you leave,” Bettina said.
They’d eaten eggplant the night before. Bettina knew Steven loved it when she fried the leftover eggplant with rice and eggs for breakfast. It was one of his favorites, especially when she used pork fat for the frying, red peppers to add a bit of heat, and a touch of vinegar. The little bit of vinegar would help calm his stomach this morning, too. While Bettina made the breakfast, Steven made them both a cup of Nescafe 3in1 coffee and decided it was time to wake his son.
“Come on, sailor, time to rise and shine. There will be plenty of time to sleep in on the ship, if that’s how you want to spend the most exciting summer of your life,” he said, shaking Konnor lightly.
Konnor almost sprang from bed in what Steven assumed was excitement. “I’m ready, Dad, but can I say goodbye to Mom before we leave?”
“Buddy, we would both be in big trouble if I didn’t give you time to say goodbye to your mom. She’s actually making our breakfast while we’re sitting here chatting,” Steven answered. “Maybe you want to get your clothes on and come eat.”
Konnor started pulling on the clothes his mom had set out for him the previous night. Steven thought he could almost hear his son vibrating.
After breakfast Bettina and her mom stood on the edge of the road with the men, waiting for a trike to come along. They would take a trike and then a jeepney, and then either bus, LRT or maybe even a cab to get to the docks, but they had plenty of time.
Bettina would have time to get in a good cry after they left, but then she’d have to get ready and go to work. She always preferred going to work on the day Steven left for a sailing trip. It gave her a lot less time to obsess about the coming months when he’d be away. This time, since Konnor was leaving as well, she hoped for a very intense day at the hospital to keep her mind busy.
#
It was early afternoon when the Santa Teresa Calcutta was assisted away from the docks by two tugboats. Konnor was settled into the upper berth in his dad’s crew cabin, but now he was invited, with the other ten passengers, to watch as they left Manila. They were at the bridge level, nearly twenty-five feet above the dock.
“Be careful, son. If you stand like that with your mouth open, a gull might fly right in and make a nest in your mouth,” the Captain said to Konnor.
Trying to hide some of the awe, Konnor closed his mouth and answered, “It’s the first time I’ve been here and not there.” He pointed to a small knot of people standing below on the dock.
“So you’ve watched your dad sail out in the past, have you?” the Captain asked.
“Yes, sir, I have. Lots of times. My dad’s been sailing for a long time. He loves the sea,” Konnor answered.
“I know he does, Konnor. I’ve sailed with your dad before. He’s a good seaman,” said the Captain. With that, he gave Konnor a little two-fingered salute, and before he walked away he said, “Welcome aboard.”
Konnor returned the captain’s gesture with a big grin and a full salute, just as his dad had taught him, and turned to concentrate on watching where he thought Corregidor Island would soon come into view. While unpacking his bag in their cabin, Konnor had found the little 110 Instamatic camera his mom used to snap pictures. He didn’t know his mom had packed it and was ecstatic as Steven helped load his first package of film. Bettina had included three packages of film that advertised twenty-four prints each. He vacillated between wanting to snap everything that was new to him, which would use all the film up in a day or two, and wanting to save every picture to see if there was something better to record later. He decided a picture looking back at the dock as they steamed away was appropriate. After that he decided he’d find the best vantage point to watch as they passed the island.
Their ship would pass through the North Channel, so Konnor would miss the tadpole’s tail end, as it was often called, but Steven told him he would have a great view of the topside, the memorialized ruins and especially Corregidor Lighthouse. That was his plan for his second picture.
Ships Passing in the Night
Konnor was beginning his summer adventure and the first stop would be Singapore. As it happened, fate and chance would cross paths, and Boris was also setting course from Mumbai, destination… Singapore.
Boris lit his Indian Beedi cigarette, smoking it more to say he knew what it was like than for any other reason. The one he smoked was from a pack he picked up from a Mumbai street vendor on the docks. His own ship was full of Beedi cigarettes packaged as Camels. He visited the hold earlier and randomly chose a package to compare it with.
The counterfeiter did a first class job with the packaging and the fake duty stamps. It was pretty unlikely Boris would have any problem getting through customs. Of course he had enough real product for the inspector to feel good about signing off, but if the inspector had a hard-on for honesty, or deep pockets he wanted filled, Boris would get a more rigorous visit. He was confident his cargo would hold up.
When he finished the Beedi he lit up the Camel/Beedi and thought it taste
d pretty much the same, although looked significantly better. Then he pulled the package of ‘real’ Camels—as best he could tell they were real; he paid plenty for them in a high class Western hotel—out of his pocket and lit yet a third stick. There was a clear difference, but to him they all tasted a bit like burning trash. Taste-testing against the real thing, or smoke-testing in this case, was his standard operating procedure when running booze, up-scale food, or cigarettes, but sometimes he wondered if it told him anything. In this case, he just smoked three more sticks than he would have on any other day.
Boris finished his inspection and wandered back to the bridge, setting the three packs down for his first mate, who lived on cigarettes and green tea. “They’re all yours, Kuya. Just don’t light one up in here, jeez.”
“Yes, sir, boss!” His first mate swept the packages, less one stick each, into his pockets, saluted, and went back to the job of getting them from point A (Mumbai) to point B (Singapore).
On the first night out to sea, before he slept, Boris liked to make a long, circuitous inspection of the entire ship. He was a detail person. The position of cargo, dunnage, height of stacks, patterns, levels of cleanliness. These were all things that were sort of photographically inventoried in his mind. If he passed through the same hold again and it was a row shorter or passed by a lubricating pump and it was oilier…or cleaner for that matter…he noticed. It was almost subconscious, but he noticed nonetheless. For some things there were reasons he understood, but for others there were reasons he understood even better. It was the ones he didn’t understand at all that bothered him the most.
This would be a lonely trip. The ship was full, but there weren’t any passengers. His mind was full as well. He’d had a long meeting with the doctor he’d been introduced to in Mumbai and came away with a list of supplies that the doctor requested. Boris wasn’t sure where he would find them, but he did a lot of traveling. He’d look around.
One Fish, Two Fish, Big Fish, Little Fish_Silver Dawn Page 4
