Goodbye Navy!
1. Welcome aboard
A sunny afternoon in Cairns.
The young brunette looked at her watch and sipped from her coffee at the terrace of the tavern. She looked again at the invitation letter she had taken out of her handbag.
Almost time for my interview. I hope they will accept me, because the actual office job I'm doing now is not for me. So bureaucratic. I want to go back to the sea. Maybe this time it will work. This carrier, the South Pacific Discovery Cruises, is asking for a skipper for one of their cabin cruisers. It shouldn't be a problem. I'm ex-navy, I know to sail, I know to cook and I have medical knowledge.
She looked again at her watch.
Yeah, here we go.
She finished her coffee, stood up and straightened her clothes .
Not exactly my favourites. Skirt, jacket, not really my thing. However I must make a good impression.
She walked a bit further, and stopped outside the office. The outside façade reminded her of a travel agency.
Hmm, here it is. Not that big. A small company.
She entered the small, newly decorated office with lots of posters of tropical islands, fish, reefs and ships on the walls. An older lady sat behind a new desk.
No, it's certainly not a dingy office. Installed with taste. Probably that means it's the same with the boats and the kind of customers. That's a big relief, especially for the latter.
"Good day, I'm Rebecca Brown. I'm here for the vacancy of the job of skipper. I have an appointment with the boss today."
"I'm sorry miss, but the boss is at sea, it was an unexpected tour she had to make. I expect her back this evening. Can you come back tomorrow?"
"Uh, ok, fine. Same time?"
"No, come at 10 o'clock."
"Ok, thanks. Bye bye."
She left and wandered through the streets looking at the shop fronts, without really seeing them.
Crap. That's a nice start. You build up a certain tension for the interview and then all of a sudden it's gone and you have to start over again.
The next morning.
Rebecca was heading to the office again, a bit nervous. Will it work today?
The lady at the desk was already expecting her when she entered."Hello, Miss Brown, the boss is expecting you."
"Hi, I'm not too late, am I?" Rebecca asked anxious.
"No, no, not at all. Just walk through. Her office is behind that door."
"Thanks."
Rebecca knocked on the door and heard a 'come in' that sounded familiar to her ears
She entered the office and was nailed at the ground.
"Ma'am !"she gasped, her eyes widening.
She was looking at Kate McGregor, her former executive was wearing a smart green suit and had her hair in a knot, just like when she was wearing her white uniform.
What is she doing here? She's dressed like a real lady.
Kate stood up and reached out her hand.
"Rebecca, please take a seat."
"Uh, thank you."
"It looks like you're surprised to see me, aren't you?"
"Uh, yes, a bit."
My god, what happened here? She was always a navy addict?
"I noticed that." Kate said with a smile."It's a long time ago, isn't it? How are you now?"
"I… I'm fine. I just can't get used to a job on shore. I need more activity. Therefore, I applied for this job as skipper."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that. You know it's hard to find decent skippers. Many of them can sail, but they lack the thing that makes the image of the company, you see what I mean?"
"Yes, I do."
"It's something I see at the first sight and then it's already decided for 50%".
Hmm, still the no nonsense woman.
"I know you. You can sail, cook, have the well desired medical knowledge, but what about your engine knowledge?"
"That's ok. I'm not a 'Charge', but I can manage it." She said with a smile.
"Neither do I, but it works." Kate answered with a smile too."I want to do a test. Does it fit for you that we will sail this afternoon to Dunk Island and back ?"
"Yeah, that's ok. Where?"
"At the docks, pier 5, the Southern Star."
"Ok, see you there."
"Thank you ma'am."
That afternoon.
Rebecca was glad to change her skirt and jacket for shorts and a t-shirt. She found the Southern Star and was waiting for Kate. The boat was painted in bright blue with yellow and white stripes.
Ouch, serious boat. Must have cost a fortune. Could that be hers? No, of course not, it's one of the company's. But the company is hers. Weird…Too crazy that I might be the skipper of such a marvel… I'm still curious to know why she isn't in the Navy anymore… Hey there she is.
Kate had parked her car at the pier and walked towards the boat. She had changed her suit for cargopants and a polo-shirt. Her hair was tied in a pony-tail.
"Hi Rebecca."
"Ma'am."
"It's Kate. This is not the Navy anymore; we're less formal, you see. I have a new boat that is coming from the wharf in a couple of days. If you're successful, you'll be the skipper of my second boat."
"A second boat?"
"Yeah. The business is good nowadays. Right, let's get on board and bring to me to Dunk Island ."
Kate hung around and observed Rebecca who handled the boat like she had done so for years. In the late afternoon they entered Cairns harbour again and Rebecca tied up the boat.
"Rebecca, you have the job. Welcome to the club."
"Thanks !"
"I remember you have a bit of an explosive temper. Try to keep that under control, will you?"
"Ok, I'll watch out."
"See me tomorrow at the office for your contract."
"Ok. Do you have time for a drink? "
"No, not today. I have to pick up Stephanie."
Stephanie?"Ok, no problem, it will be for the next time."
"What would you like me to call you? Rebecca, Bomber?"
"Becca, will be fine."
"Ok, I'll do that. See you."
The next day Rebecca was at the office again to sign the contract and to receive the company uniform. It composed of cargopants and blue polo-shirt with the logo, and a cap, also with the logo.
"Becca, tomorrow I'll have the new boat. It's the Southern Cross and it's the one that you are going to sail," Kate said.
"Great."
"Another thing. I want that you always know where the boats are going to. This applies also to me. If something would go wrong, then the other skipper knows where the boat should be. Here's a spare key of the office, so that you can always look into the planning." Kate handed over a key.
"Ok, roger that."
Kate had a slight smile hearing the old Navy behaviour of answering. Once Navy, always Navy. We can't get rid it of it.
"Did you plan anything for the weekend?" Kate asked Rebecca.
"No, nothing special. I have no obligations. I'm still single, you see."
"Fine. We will fix up the boat with supplies, and then take a trip out together, so we can see how it handles. I'll pick you up on Saturday, at 11 o'clock, at pier 5. No uniform yet, just casual. And just for a few of hours. I need to pick up Stephanie by the end of the afternoon," she said with a smile.
"Great, no problem for me."