After an amusing lunch at Tibby's we headed back. Spot, Little, Skittery and I must have retold the events of that afternoon five thousand times but it just didn't get old.
After selling, when we got back to the lodging house, it was almost dark. Kloppman waved me down. "You got a letter." A smile spread across my face as I thanked him and sat on the couch.
"Dear Navy,
It's a relief to hear that you're doing well. I miss you, too.
The Navy has certainly been knew to me. It's definitely different than passenger and cargo ships. I'll never get the hang of saluting.
There isn't much more to say than that.
Sending All My Love,
-Captain Ham"
I always remember my mother complaining about his notoriously short letters and I my grandmother screaming every time he wrote. But of all my grandparents' and father's arguments, the one that would never leave my memory was the day he came home to mourn my mother's death. They screamed for what seemed like hours while I sat in bed, holding my ears and crying. I remember the Captain came in to my room picked me up and walked out with my grandfather threatened to call the police and my grandmother crying out "God save my granddaughter!"
Pulling me out of my memories and seat, Trip declared we were going out.
"Where?"
"I wanna go swimming and everyone's going down to the Manhattan docks. Come on, it'll be fun."
"Trip, it's cold. I don't want to jump into water right now."
"It's not cold. It's very nice weather for the middle of May in New York."
She gave me the saddest puppy-dog eyes I've seen and I sighed. "Fine, I'll come."
Kiki, Russia, Slight, Little, Jack, Spot, Race and Skittery came with us too. Before leaving Russia had begged Snoddy to come. Their conversation went something like this:
"Please!"
"No!"
"Why not?"
"I can't swim!"
"So?"
"Russia, I know you. As soon as we get there you're gonna push me in. I'll sink and someone'll have to save me and then I'll look stupid."
"Pansy."
"What did you just call me?"
"A pansy! You know those little flowers that smash if breath on them."
"I'm not a flower!"
"Flower boy, flower boy, flower boy!"
"Enough!"
"Flower boy!"
Snoddy gave up and went back to the newspaper he had been reading and Russia left him alone. She had a tendency of stopping whatever she was doing when she stopped getting attention.
We walked down the road in a clump. Several people frowned at us for being too loud and taking up to much room on the already crowded sidewalk.
I sat down next to Trip with my legs dangling over the edge once we reached the deserted docks while some of the others dove in. The sun was setting and it made the greenish-brown water look a light peach color. It was going to be dark soon and I hated swimming at night.
"Get in!" Skittery yelled from below while his head bobbed up and down above the water. Trip slid in but I shook my head. I still firmly believed it was too cold. "With a name like Navy, you had better know how to swim!" Skitts called.
"It's too cold!" I whined. Instead of continuing to ask, he just grabbed my ankle and pulled me in. I shouted out but my mouth being submerged into the disgusting river water cut me off. I accidentally swallowed some. When I resurfaced, I coughed it up and splashed Skittery.
"Its f-f-freezing." I said and I couldn't stop shaking.
I received a skeptical look and an "It isn't that cold." As I continued to cough he asked "Are you alright?"
I shook my head 'no' as I waded next to him.
"I'm sorry Naves." Hmm, Naves – that's cute in a weird way. "Let's get you out. You don't look so good."
I coughed again. "Don't worry. I'll be okay as soon as I'm out."
He looked at me with a guilty expression and shimmied up the pole. Once he was at the top he reached down and pulled me up.
"Thanks."
"Is that better?" He asked.
"Yeah." I lied.
"Do ya wanna go back home?"
"I'll go by myself." I felt so light-headed and dizzy. This wasn't normal. Swimming never bothered my before. It might have been the water I swallowed. There were a lot of steam boats tied up nearby.
"No, this is my fault. I shouldn't have pulled you in." He seemed way too mad at himself. He shouldn't have been.
"It isn't you fault." I forced a laugh. "It's my weak immune system." I smiled but felt like laying down and sleeping.
"You must have swallowed something."
I don't really remember what happened after that. I don't think I fainted, I just lost all of my concentration. I'm almost positive I walked on my own with Skittery by my side, but just know I woke up in my cot later in the same clothes. Skittery sat by me and no one seemed to have gotten back. My head hurt and I excused myself, went to the bathroom and spilled the contents of my stomach.
When I came out, Skittery was waiting. "I-I didn't think you'd get sick. I'm so sorry. I feel awful."
"Don't." I said, feeling out of it. "I just need to sleep. I'll be fine in the morning."
"Do you need me to get you something?" He asked leading me over to my bed. Once I was in bed I asked for some water and he disappeared to go get it.
I was asleep by the time he got back.
I've seen you all make up cool nicknames for characters so ... I need some ideas for a nickname for myself for a job this summer. If you could throw a few ones out there I would really appreciate it. (I hope thisdoesn't make them delete my story...)
Reviews Amazing.