Chapter 24~ Home Again
As the convoy entered the outskirts of town, Ivan ordered a change of course. Instead of heading back to the naval base as Thresher had assumed, the were heading into town, in the opposite direction. Thresher clicked a question.
"Oh, you'll see." Ivan chuckled. "A little surprise for you girl. No one should have to be alone on Christmas."
Thresher's rudder wagged excitedly. She loved surprises, well the good ones anyway. She squealed and bounced all over the backseat when she recognized the neighborhood in which they were in. It was Ivan's home they were going to. Thresher was going to spend Christmas with Ivan!
The submarine was still a bouncing ball of energy when she was let out at the end of the driveway. Seeing Caroline standing on the front porch, Thresher picked up the base. She judged her distance well and 10 feet from the human, leaped into her arms.
"Hello to you too." Caroline laughed as she recovered from Thresher's endless face licking.
The submarine was not sorry for her actions and buried her little muzzle in her chest, purring up a storm. Her rudder wagged a million miles an hour and she couldn't stop smiling. It was the best reunion ever!
Dinner, a nice salmon dish was brought out and Thresher kept herself from drooling by tipping her head back. A plate complete with utensils was set in front of her and recalling what she'd learned from Emily, Thresher unrolled the napkin and set it in her lap. She picked up her fork and knife in her stubby fingers, fumbling just a bit before getting a piece of the salmon on her plate as it was passed around. Setting her utensials down she took the plate from Avery and passed it to Ivan who thanked her.
Once the plates were served, Thresher was surprised no one started tucking in. Avery and Ivan held their hands closest to her out and curious, Thresher took them. Looking at Ivan, she squeaked curiously.
"Just bow your head and listen." He told her and Thresher did so.
"Today we have many things to be thankful for oh Lord. In a time where few have nearly as much as we, we are grateful for all this wonderful food. A wife who can cook." This earned a slight smile out of Caroline. "But most of all we are grateful for Thresher. We thank you Lord from the bottom of our hearts that she has been returned to us safely and we pray that she continues to be the strong, fine young submarine she's always been." Thresher felt both her fins being squeezed so she squeezed back gently.
Ivan finished the prayer with a simple "Amen" and with her fins free again, Thresher set about eating her dinner. Caroline had always been a fabulous cook. Thresher had had her Thanksgiving and Christmas dishes before. Maybe it was just the delight of being home again, or maybe it was just because she hadn't had her cooking in so long, either way Caroline's cooking that day was the best she'd had in a long, long time! And she couldn't claim a better since.
The weeks passed and Thresher, now a fully qualified submarine, settled back in her routine at the Submarine base in Groton, one thing still nagged at her. Despite their best efforts, the Navy didn't find the hot dog man who kidnapped her. But with the carnival coming around again, she had a good idea where to find him.
So, in the early morning, about a week before she was scheduled to be commissioned as a United States Submarine, she snuck out of her berth and up the same hill she'd gone up before. This time though she wasn't interested in food. It was revenge she was after and by Poseidon she was going to get it, whatever the cost.