The ship.
Captain Smith, Shadow, and Frank were now in Smiths quarters on C Deck. "So Uncle, where is the ship heading?" Frank asked trying to strike a conversation.
"Well, the ship was heading for Hawaii, but now it looks like were going back to San Francisco." Smith answered.
"Why?" Shadow innocently asked.
Smith looked at Shadow in bewilderment. "What do you mean 'why'? Look at you! My crew won't want to stay on ship with you around." Smith explained, but than instantly regretted it.
Shadow just looked over at Frank and then back at Smith, than asked. "What's wrong with me?"
Smith was now feeling a bit scared about answering that. "Well." Smith started meekly.
Shadow was just staring at him. He wanted to know why no one but Frank and Rev. Slade liked him.
"Uh… Frank?" Smith asked.
Frank just stood there with a huge grin on his face when he said. "Oh no. You are on your own with this. I'm enjoying this too much"
"Well… Go on, I want to know why." Shadow said in full honestly. Shadow didn't understand why the humans on the ship would feel unconfortable with his appearance. He was considered very good looking with his brothers, and sisters, and mother, and he didn't hurt anyone.
"Well because—and please don't eat me for this, but." Smith started
Shadow leaned forward to listen.
"Look at you, these dreadful claws, that horrible tail." Smith started
Shadow looked at his tail. Was it really that horrible? In the hive a good sharp tail was a sign of good health.
Smith continued. "And…once again please don't kill me. And, you smell like you never had a bath."
Shadow just stared blankly at Smith.
Frank on the other hand was trying not to lose it. "You are a bit ripe, Shadow." Frank added than burst out laughing.
Shadow was confused on what was so funny. Finally after Frank quit laughing, Shadow shook his head in confusion "Bath? What's the heck is that?" Shadow asked both Frank and Smith.
Frank struggled not to laugh again.
"Well that would explain it." Smith answered in a sarcastic tone.
Frank completely lost it. Once again Shadow did not get what was so funny.
"Oh dear, don't worry Frank will help give you a bath." Smith said with a shit eating grin.
Frank instantly quit laughing to say. "Oh hell no! Not going to happen, forget it."
"I know why don't you give him a bath?" Frank recommended
"I don't think Shadow here likes me that much." Smith answered.
"It's your ship." Frank argued
"That's right and, if you get him smelling half way decent, and get his claws trimmed, I won't tell your mother and father you are on Hawaii." Smith offered.
Shadow cut in. "If I do this bath thing, you won't turn the boat around?"
Both Smith and Frank looked at Shadow and nodded.
After a long pause to think, Frank finally sighed said. "Fine I will get Shadow one hot bath."
Smith smiled. "Good you can use my tub. I think it's the only one on the ship he will fit in." Smith said and laughed.
"Swell." Frank said and looked at Shadows claws. "How are we going to cut these big things?"
"I have an Afghan on board, so I got big enough clippers to get them cut." Smith answered
Frank nodded. "Fine go get them. I'll fix Shadows smell, and take care of his claws."
Shadow felt very worried about this.
"Come on let's get this over with, Shadow." Frank said as he walked over to Smith's bathroom.
Shadow reluctantly followed Frank into the spacious bathroom. It was a very nice bathroom with lots of brass decoration, and a luxurious whirlpool bathtub.
Frank walked over to the large tub and turned on the facet. Shadow tipped his head inquisitively as Frank tuned the values to adjust the water temperature.
"What are you doing?" Shadow asked like an innocent kid.
"I don't want to make the water too hot for you." Frank answered.
"For me?" Shadow asked.
"Yes." Frank answered.
"You can't take a bath without water." Frank added
Very rapidly the water level climbed, and Shadow was wondering, what did he just get himself into?
Frank turned the water off and turned to Shadow. "Climb in."
"But I'll get wet." Shadow dumbly said.
Frank just did a face palm. "That's the whole point, Lugnut."
Shadow slowly walked up to the tub of water, and placed a clawed hand in the hot water, then another and finally got in. It felt weird to Shadow to just be sitting in hot water.
Frank grabbed a bar of soap. "This is called soap. Just dip it into the water slide you're hands over it until it gets sudsy." Frank explained as he handed Shadow the soap.
Shadow sniffed it and said. "It smells funny."
Frank rolled his eyes. "That's because you aren't used to it."
Shadow began to rub wet the bar of soap.
"Now all you got to do is rub your sudsy claws over your body." Frank explained.
Shadow felt very weird about doing this, and Frank could tell.
"I'll leave you alone to take your bath." Frank said as he started for the door.
Shadow was alone and did as he was told. Though he did not know what the point of this was.
20 minutes later Frank came back in with a few towels. "How you doing in here, Shadow?
"I'm all done… but I sure don't get the point of all of this. You didn't take a bath." Shadow answered.
Frank laughed. "Don't worry as soon as your claws are trimmed and you're dry. I'm next."
Before Frank could say another word Shadow asked a question. "What do all these buttons do?"
"Well, let me see…massage jets, and water temperature." Frank read the console.
"Jets, what do they do?" Shadow asked
"Yeah they feel really good." Frank answered
Shadow looked up at Frank confused once again.
"Here" Frank said as he pressed the button for the jets. The water came out powerfully. At first Shadow was caught off guard and scared by it but very quickly decided he liked the feeling.
Frank chuckled as shadow leaned back bending his very flexible pipes on his back.
"Alright I'm going to clip your claws" Frank said in a matter-of-factly tone.
Frank reached out for Shadow's clawed hand. Shadow did not like the idea of having his claws cut one bit.
Frank looked at the claw clippers and said. "I can just tell that I'm not going to cut those with this crappy thing."
Shadow was relived.
Frank started to walk out the door, but before he did he said. "Hey Shadow, please don't take too long in here. OK?"
Shadow felt strangely relaxed like he could soak in the water all day, but nodded.
25 minutes later Shadow climbed out of the tub and shook off sending water everywhere not realizing that is what the towels were for.
Frank ran in when he heard the sound of shaking. He hoped, and prayed that shadow did not do what he thought he did. Frank walked in to see everything soaked.
"Shadow!" Frank yelled.
Shadow looked up at him "What, what did I do?"
Shadow was about to shake again, but Frank stopped him." No, no, no, no! That is what the towels are for." Frank informed as he unfolded a towel and throw it around Shadow.
Frank felt annoyed, but laughed and said. "Working with you is, like working with a three year old."
"You dry off with the towel. I've got to clean this mess up, and get cleaned up before Uncle Sam comes back." Frank said coolly.
Shadow groggily walked out of the bathroom while using the towel to dry off.
50 minutes later Frank got the mess cleaned up and was now cleaned up himself.
In that time Shadow made himself at home, and was sound asleep in front of the open window.