3. Departing is Such Sweet Sorrow

"Wwwoww!" Balki exclaimed as they stepped into their cabin. The room wasn't very large but it was like stepping into an island itself. The carpet was gold patterned, simulating a sandy beach. The wallpaper was a light green palm frond pattern that complemented the darker, more jungle feel of the two bedspreads. A large dresser made from a rich, dark wood stood against one wall. "Cousin, look this!" He ran a hand over the drawers where ornately carved animals and birds played across the wood.

Larry gratefully dropped his bags on the floor and flopped down on the nearest bed. He was exhausted. The plane ride had been hectic. Balki was so excited to be on his first airplane he couldn't sit still and wouldn't shut up. Larry had been afraid the other passengers, deprived of the quiet they deserved, would form a mob and throw Balki out the nearest airlock. But, as it was, they only received a few empty threats of bodily harm and a warning from the flight attendant. They'd had to change planes twice and both times had been complete chaos. When they finally reached Miami they had to take a smelly, crowded bus thirty miles to the quaint little harbor town from which the cruise was to embark. Balki had insisted on checking out a little souvenir shop next to the bus station where he had chatted with the owner for at least half an hour and bought that ridiculous outfit. Then they had taken a taxi driven by the 'Little Old Lady From Pasadena' to the pier. All he wanted to do now was find the hot tub and stay there until he was as wrinkled as his great grandmother. But that would require that he get up, change and walk to the hot tub. At the moment that seemed like a mighty monumental task.

Balki picked up a piece of paper from the nightstand that sat between the two beds. It was folded accordion style and about the size of a brochure. "Look, a map of the ship!"

"Fascinating." Larry mumbled indifferently.

"That open hallway just outside is called a breezeway." Balki said, studying the paper closely.

"Mm." Larry said by way of reply. He closed his eyes and tried his best to ignore his cousin's excited chatter. The bed was so soft and he was so tired he could have fallen asleep right then and there if Balki hadn't been talking a mile a minute.

"We should explore the ship." Balki suggested as he began to unpack his bag. He pulled Dimitri out first, giving the stuffed sheep a pat on the head before carefully setting it on his pillow.

"You do that." Maybe if Balki went off to check out the ship he could get in a good nap.

"Come on, let's go!" Balki grabbed him by the arm and jerked him roughly to his feet.

"Balki!" He shouted sharply, twisting from his cousin's grasp. Quickly lowering his voice he continued. "I'm very tired. I have jetlag and the adrenaline rush from the taxi ride is long gone. I really don't feel like wandering around the ship right now. I want to rest."

"Oh." Balki lowered his head a bit, obviously disappointed.

"Maybe later." Larry said as he sat back down on the bed.

Balki plopped onto the bed beside his cousin. "There are a lot of good places to rest here. Listen to what it says." He held up the brochure and began to read slowly and haltingly, his thick accent making the words completely indistinguishable.

Larry gave a frustrated grunt and snatched the paper away from Balki.

The Mypiot looked slightly indignant for a second then simply tapped the page where he wanted Larry to begin reading.

" 'If relaxation is what you want try our spa where we have a messages, a steam room and a ten person hot tub.' Hmm. That does sound nice."

"Sure it does. Now, why you don't go down there to the bra…"

"Spa!" Larry nearly shouted, embarrassed by Balki's mispronunciation. "That word is 'Spa'!"

Balki winced slightly at the severity of his cousin's tone, then continued as if nothing had happened. "We could go there and relax for awhile. Then maybe you feel like exploring the ship with me."

Larry nodded slowly. He rose from the bed, rummaged around in one of his many suitcases for a moment then pulled out at towel and his swimsuit. "Aren't you going to get yours?" Larry asked, noting his cousin's empty hands. "They won't let you in the hot tub wearing that."

"I'm already wearing my swim trunks." Balki hiked up is pants and gave his cousin a smug smile.

"Alright," He said with a resigned sigh. "Let's go."

They stepped out the door and onto the deck outside. It was fairly busy, with people bustling back and forth, finding their rooms or simply checking out the ship.

"I like these little boats." Balki said, tapping one of the lifeboats as they walked by. "They remind me of fishing with my uncle Philo. Maybe I take you out in one and we can catch some fish."

Larry shook his head. "Those aren't for us to play with. They're lifeboats in case the ship sinks. You just untie this knot here and down she goes."

"Why they have this white cloth on them?"

"That's canvas. And it's probably to keep water out of the boat when it rains."

-

"It's warm in here." Balki commented as they stepped out of the locker room and into the spa.

Larry had changed into his swimsuit but for whatever reason Balki had yet to remove his clothes.

"It's supposed to be." Larry said as he crossed the relatively empty health room toward the hot tub. He was pleased when he found it unoccupied. Everyone else must still be getting settled he reasoned as he set his towel on a nearby table.

"Well, hit me with a stick and call me a pina colada!" Balki exclaimed as he caught sight of the hot tub.

Larry stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out which word he could have possibly confused this time. "I think you mean piñata." He said finally.

Balki leaned over the edge and peered into the steaming bubbles. "They've got hot springs here, just like on Mypos! You know, this is the best way to cook duck. See, you take a whole bird and just toss it in and then you add…"

Ignoring Balki's chatter Larry stepped over to the pool. He smiled in anticipation as he began to lower himself into the steaming water. But before he could so much as get a foot wet, Balki's terrified shout echoed through the room.

"Cousin, stop!"

He felt Balki's strong hands around his shoulders as he was jerked roughly backwards. After barely catching his footing he shrugged out of his cousin's grasp and whirled around to face him. "What are you doing?!" He nearly shouted.

"That's what I was going to ask you. Are you off your rocking horse?" Balki threw a hand toward the bubbling hot tub. "You want to be boiled to death?! I've seen it happen and believe me it's not a fun way to go."

"Balki," Larry put a hand to his head and let out a weary sigh. "This is a hot tub. Not a hot spring. It's not the same thing. People sit in this to relax. That's what it's for." With that he turned abruptly stepped down into the water.

Balki gasped slightly and for a second looked as if he would try and rescue his cousin again. But as he saw the contentment on Larry's face as he settled into the steaming water he realized that there was no real danger. "But it's boiling." Balki said with a frown as he got to his knees and touched his fingertips to the bubbling liquid. "It should be hotter than this."

"It's not boiling." Larry explained, his eyes closed, trying not to let Balki's questions ruin the comfort of the moment. "The bubbles come from jets."

Balki's face scrunched in confusion. "Airplanes?"

Larry's eyebrows came together in a frustrated frown. He just couldn't win. Opening his eyes and sitting up straight he was about to tell his cousin to get in and shut up or go away when a chipper male voice rang over the loud speaker.

"Hey, there! This is your captain speaking. All aboard that's commin' aboard. We'll be leaving port and heading out into the deep blue in ten minutes. I'll say it again, we're leaving in ten minutes."

"We're leaving!" Balki exclaimed exuberantly.

"Yep." Larry said, relieved at the subject change.

"Come on, Cousin. We've got to wave goodbye to America." Balki reached down into the water, grabbed his cousin's hand and started for the locker room.

Larry would have been yanked right out of the pool if he hadn't twisted out of Balki's grip, which sent the Mypiot tumbling forward. Larry crossed his arms resolutely. "Balki, I'm happy right here. I don't want to wave goodbye to America. It'll still be there when we get back. If you want to go, fine." He waved a hand, shooing his cousin away. Maybe with Balki gone he could finally relax.

"B…but I want you come with me."

"I don't want to. I just got comfortable."

Balki's eye's widened like a begging puppy dogs. "Please?"

"Balki, no."

"I want you come with me!" He said with a pouting sob and dropped his head into his hands.

Larry rolled his eyes. Could his cousin possibly get any more childish? "Alright. Alright. I'll come with you."

Balki instantly recovered, brought his head up and smiled in satisfaction.

Larry reluctantly climbed out of the comforting warmth and grabbed his towel and headed for the locker room.

The deck was crowded. People leaned over the banisters shouting and waving to family and friends on the docks below. Balki rushed up to the railing, Larry trailing grudgingly behind. The immigrant was literally bouncing with excitement. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Cousin, smell it! Do you know what that is?"

"The cannery across the street?" Larry queried dryly.

"It's adventure!" Balki's arms flew wide, nearly hitting a woman standing near him. He grabbed his cousin around the shoulders and gestured to the watery horizon. "We're going out on the high seas! Can you believe it!"

"Yeah, I just hope those pills keep working."

"Well, of course they will, don' be ridiculous."

Just then the ship lurched slightly beneath their feet and began heading smoothly out to sea. The other people on the deck began cheering and waved with renewed vigor.

"We're leaving!" Balki shouted, not even trying to contain his excitement. "We're going on a cruise!" With a celebratory clap he spread his arms wide. "Now we are so happy we do the Dance of Joy!"

Balki's enthusiasm finally rubbing off, Larry jumped in and joined his cousin in the exuberant Myposian jig. The lively two-step ended with Larry leaping into Balki's arms. The crowd around them exploded with energetic applause.

Larry smiled sheepishly as Balki set him down on the deck.

"This is going to be so much fun." Balki said, turning back to the railing and looking out toward the clear blue sea.

"You're acting like you've never been on the ocean before." Larry commented, leaning slightly on the banister. "Didn't you come to America by boat."

"Yes, but it wasn't as beautiful a boat as this and…and this time I'm with my best friend."

Larry couldn't help but smile at that. He reached up and put an arm around his cousin's shoulders and watched the small harbor shrink as they sailed away.

"You know…" Balki remarked, still staring out to sea. "The last time I was on a boat was nearly two years ago, when I first come to America on the tram steamer. I remember coming into the New York harbor and seeing the Statue of Liberty for the very first time."

Larry smiled at the contented reminiscence on his friend's face.

Balki chuckled softly before continuing. "I remember asking myself 'why she is green'."