Sammy & Ilna - You always make the dream work better than I could ever imagine xoxo
REAL McRollers and Readers, we love you all!
Points to anyone who can identify where I got the name of the bar - it was from many moons ago.
This one is in memory of two very special pups. Rest easy beautiful boys.
Making the Dream Work
Steve just sat down at his desk after completing an interview in lockup when his phone dinged with a group text alert. He checked the message and smiled at the sender's name as Catherine did the same from her office.
The other recipients wore matching grins of their own. Joseph from the volunteer consultation room at Pearl, Carrie from her desk and John from his office where he'd just finished an eval for a young sailor.
Steve's smile broadened as read the text from Dylan.
Hi Uncle Steve, Aunt Catherine, Uncle Joseph, Carrie and John, this is a group text to save time, so forgive a busy 4th year. I thought you might like to see this… two hours, 31 minutes and 51 seconds. We beat last year's time by an hour! Can't wait to see you and the family!
The link was to a YouTube video titled Herndon Climb 2023 and held a descriptor of: Fourth years (freshman) at the US Naval Academy build a human pyramid to remove the dixie cup hat at the top of the vegetable shortening-covered monument and replace it with an upperclassman's hat.
The replies began to flow.
Catherine: Great time! And 2:08:26 right here…just saying.
Carrie: Class of 2000 - climb of '96! Tell 'em, bestie!
Steve rolled his eyes at her follow up: John, Steve, want to offer up the time for your class? Because in case you forgot … 4:05:17. He typed, Seriously, Stagler?
Great job, Dylan! Joseph added to the chain. And 2:00:33 right here, children.
John: Excellent time, Dylan! And It's 27 years, sweetheart, maybe let that go?
Carrie: Have you met me, John Parker? His wife quipped back.
John: And you never disappoint. Are you in the video, Dylan?
Dylan: You are all hysterical and yes, John! When you watch, you can see me on the bottom right of the tower in the video. Maybe remind Angie she shouldn't grease up any obstacles if you show her this haha. See you all soon. I can hardly believe I get three whole weeks leave before my Fleet Cruise. Hooyah!
A flurry of hooyas filled the screen and in his room at Bancroft, Dylan Allen wore a smile of satisfaction at a team effort well done and of a family tradition he was so proud to be a part of.
That evening, the kids sat cross legged on the floor in front of the TV watching and cheering the Herndon climb. Clapping every time the camera landed on Dylan, Angie asked a question without turning her eyes from the screen as the video ended with the cheering midshipmen celebrating their triumph. "Did you do that, Mommy and Daddy?"
"We did," Catherine answered. "So did Grandpa."
"Grandpa did it, too?" DJ confirmed. "That's so cool."
"Who won?" Angie inquired, causing her mother to raise a brow at Steve.
"What? Legit question," he said with a laugh. "Everyone wins, baby girl. It's a team effort."
"But who did it fastest? Was it Mommy like on the obs'icle course?"
"Actually, your Mommy's class beat my class time, but the fastest time was Grandpa's class."
The little girl's arms rose in a cheer. "Yay! Grandpa wins! Can we watch those next?"
"Ah, sweetheart, they didn't take videos then. Not to share anyway," Catherine explained.
"It was way back in the day," DJ clarified. "Somebody would have needed an old school video camera."
"Oh. That's okay. You can tell us all about it." She turned to face her parents as they chuckled at the 'back in the day' description of their academy years. "It was so fun, wasn't it?"
Annapolis, MD 1996
Carrie wrapped Catherine in a hug with a whoop of excitement. "Bam! And now …" she waved a hand to indicate her wet, greasy classmates. "Having successfully completed the Herndon climb, we are no longer called plebes but fourth class midshipmen," she quoted the code book.
"Good time, Rollins," Steve's voice had both girls turning to see him, John and Freddie approaching from where the spectators had cheered the climbers on.
"Beat your class time by an hour." Carrie grinned. "Did you see my roomie fly up and hold on? She boosted the next level up like a damn superhero."
"Great job, Rollins!" A fellow plebe high fived her as he passed while John and Freddie congratulated her efforts.
"We almost matched my dad's class time," Catherine said proudly. "I can't wait to call him."
"After you do," Steve said with a raised brow, "and hit the showers, how about I go swing by the diner for takeout? Feel like burgers?"
"Absolutely!" Catherine clapped and rocked back on her heels. She was covered in the vegetable shortening and water the upperclassmen coat the tower with before the climb. "C'mon, Carrie, I'm gonna de-grease." She looped an arm through her friend's. Carrie was also doused in shortening from their celebratory hug.
"Guess I need to, too, and I didn't even climb," she laughed. "Worth it, though, for the ringside seat. How about pizza at Steerage,you guys?" She asked John and Freddie with a knowing glance at their friends."
"I'm in," Freddie answered. "I'll third wheel with you two for a pizza anytime." He clapped John on the shoulder. "It'll be a freak show soon," he said of the alternative dining option reserved exclusively for midshipmen. "We'll go get a seat." To Steve he grinned. "You two *cough* enjoy the burgers."
"Bite me," Steve told his best friend good naturedly. After a full year he was getting used to the teasing about himself and Catherine.
When Freddie singsonged, "See you later," Catherine shook her head and started for Bancroft Hall. Smiling at Steve she tossed, "Double cheeseburger and waffle fries - get two orders. I'm starving, McGarrett, I'm not sharing my fries."
Catherine and Carrie's Room
Steve sat on a desk chair across from Catherine's while she unpacked the takeout he'd brought onto her desk. "This is great, Steve, thank you." She popped a fry in her mouth before turning to place the food on the trunk he'd dragged away from the wall to serve as a table.
"We'll deserved, Midshipman Fourth Class Rollins." He tilted his bottle of iced tea towards her.
"Thanks. My dad was pretty excited when I called."
Her beautiful smile and dancing eyes made his breath catch for a second and he cleared his throat. "Of course he was. You did great."
"Teamwork." Catherine's smile grew. "Hey, speaking of which…"
"What?" He asked and took a bite of his burger.
"The Bucket of Blood is having Navy Trivia tomorrow night…"
"You wanna team up, Rollins?" He cocked an eyebrow.
"I want to win, McGarrett, and this combination right here," she gestured between them with the French fry she was holding, "is gonna get us the gift card for a hundred bucks. You in?"
Steve's smile made her tummy flip a bit in a now familiar way and she reached for her iced tea as he said, "Are you kidding? I'm in." He grabbed his drink and they clinked bottles. "Just like every other bar game, we're unbeatable."
"Teamwork makes the dream work."
McGarrett Rollins kitchen, present
"That's what Mr S says about teamwork!" Angie was delighted.
"And I bet you won the contest at the Bloody Bucket place, 'cause you guys are the best team ever." DJ beamed at them.
"The Bucket of Blood, and remembering it, not the most appealing name…" Catherine laughed. "And yes, Daddy and I won."
"As always," Steve wrapped an arm around her and kissed her cheek. "Because teamwork…" he led, and even as the kids answered, "Makes the dream work," Catherine saw in his eyes he was referring to so much more than any contest, past or present.
Pecking his lips, she said, "With us, always and forever."
# End thanks for reading
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