Chapter Seventeen
Mike and Nann woke up at the same time, Mike got out of bed and put on his newly clean and pressed white shorts, his blue knee length socks and black shoes. Nann was looking at him and feeling very proud. She got out of bed and walked into his arms and kissed him. "Love you," she said, "Love you too," he said then walked out of the bedroom. Mike was stood at the sink, he had shaving soap on his face ready to use his razer, all you could see of Mike's face was his eyes and nose, There was a knock at the door, it was Nann, she needed to use the shower, as she passed him, she dropped her dressing gown and made to walk behind Mike. As she did so, Mike turned round saying give us a kiss, then he kissed Nann, she pulled away from him saying. "Yuk. you rotter, look at me." "I am," Mike said. "You look beautiful." Nann stepped into the shower and putting her face under the water she washed off the shaving soap, then using her own soap she washed the rest of her body. Mike was watching her in the bathroom mirror as he shaved, and felt very good that they were together.
Back in the bedroom, Mike finished dressing, he took a clean pressed white front and making sure that the front crease was correct, he put it on. Checking himself in the dressing table mirror, picking up his cap, he headed for the lounge. As he went to leave the bedroom, Nann was coming in with a towel wrapped around her body, he dressing gown over her arm, as they passed each other they kissed, as they broke the kiss, Mike grabbed the towel and pulled it away from Nann's body. Then tossing it back to her, they looked at each other, Mike with lust in his eyes, and Nann with pride in hers. She didn't mind Mike removing the towel, it was only him who could see her, and she felt good that what he saw was the woman he loved and respected.
At the breakfast table, there was a lot of small talk, after the plates were taken away by Grace to the kitchen, the other three were left to finish off their coffee. Nann stood up ready to go to work, she kissed Mike saying. "See you soon, I hope." then she was out the door heading for her bus. Mike and Roger went down to the car, and with Mike's kit on the back seat, they headed for Manoel Island, as they drove, Roger told Mike that he and Grace had talked at some length about what plans you had made, and he had decided to drop Ken a line, to get his views. By now they were at the little side road that looked down on the small square, and the four minesweepers moored up to the pontoons. Mike got out of the car, grabbed his kit, then said."Thank you chief, it was a great weekend." "That's ok Mike," Roger said. "Don't be a stranger, I have a daughter who needs you." Then turning the car around in the square, he drove away.
Mike walked across the square, then down a flight of steps, with his kitbag over his shoulder and small case in his hand, he felt like a sailor should. Crossing the wide gangway onto the pontoon, he saw Bossington, she was the inboard sweeper, which made his job easier, only one small gangway to navigate. Onboard he was met by the quartermaster and bosuns mate, as they were talking the officer of the day arrived, looking at Mike's paperwork, he asked the quartermaster, or Q/M to take Palmer below and show him to his mess deck. "Come on peddler." the Q/M said." follow me, give us your case, you can carry your kit bag. By the way, the names Williams, they call me Bungy for short." Down in the mess which was small, Mike was introduced to some of the lads. He already knew Leading Seaman James, he was the guy who had looked after him on his day trip. "Hello, young Palmer." he said, "Well you made it then, right," he said. "This will be your locker." pointing to a grey painted metal locker bolted to the bulkhead ( wall ) "You should be able to get all your kit into that, except your main uniforms, and they go there." He pointed to a small area covered by a curtain. Mike was then introduced to the rest of the lads in his new mess. Jock Mcphee, the second leading seaman in the Seamans mess. then it went down the line, Bungy Williams, Irish Spooner, Scouse Tanner, Shiner Wright, Taff Jones, Bing Bingham, Marty Martin and of course, he said." You peddler Palmer. We make up the watchkeeping crew and the guns crew, we also look after the forecastle in harbour and at sea, plus whatever other duties they chuck at us, but we are a good team, and do the jobs we are given to do with a smile on our faces, this is a good ship. You will meet the skipper and Jimmy later, and as for the rest of the crew, they will soon get to know you and you them." Mike set about putting his kit away, then he was given a bunk, a mattress and some bedding, by the time he had sorted everything out, it was tea time. As they sat at the mess table, all his messmates wanted to know about there new companion, and when he told them he had a girl in Malta, they were a little hesitant. "Hang on pal," said Jimmy. "How come you've already pulled out here," Mike explained that her father was a chief out here and they had met up before he had gone back to England to join up, then he showed them the framed photo. Wowee, they said, she's a bit of alright. "She is that, "Mike said. Then someone said, have you bedded her yet, Mike just smiled, You have, haven't you, you dirty lucky begger. they said together. Mike heard his name being called over the main tannoy system. Ordinary seaman Palmer, report to the captain's cabin." Mike picked up his cap and headed in the direction told by one of his messmates, he sort of remembered where to go. Outside the door marked captain Mike stood and knocked the door, he waited, a voice inside said, enter. Mike walked into the cabin. "Sit down Palmer." the captain was just finishing off some paperwork, after which he looked up at Mike. "Well, Palmer," he said,. "You made it back to us." He leaned over and shook Mike's hand. "I have read your report from Raleigh, its very good and I think you will fit in well on board. Right, I'm putting you on watchkeeping duties, and at sea, you will be my bridge messenger, is that ok with you." "Yes sir, thank you, sir," Mike said. "Right." the captain said, "have you anything to ask me." "Yes sir," Mike said. "I do have a girlfriend out here, her father is the captain's secretary here on Manoel Island, and I would like, with your permission to spend my off duty time with her." "I know all about this Palmer, and as far as I am concerned, as long as you are on board to do your regular duties, your time is your own. Of course, under normal circumstances, you would have to be back on board by midnight, but we are a small ship with a small crew, and as long as my lads don't cause trouble ashore, and I get the feeling you will be tucked up in bed anyway by midnight I don't think I have to worry." "Thank you, sir," Mike said and left the captains cabin. As he walked back to his mess, he was stopped by another officer. "You must be Palmer." he said. "Yes sir." Mike said. "Nice to meet you at last." they shook hands. "I am the 1st Lieutenant, or as the rest of the men onboard call me the Jimmy. I trust that you will enjoy your time with us, there are no ogres on this ship, we work as a team, and once you get used to the way we work, you will fit in very well." Mike was also told by the Jimmy that he would be second loader on the 40/60 at action stations. Mike took everything he had been told inside his brain, but he would have to talk to at least one of the lads to find out what the second loader did at action stations. Mike saluted the jimmy and carried on to the mess, as he made his way along the small passageway, the Jimmy called him. "Palmer, just one small thing, get to know your new home as quickly as you can, it needs you, and you need it."" Yes sir." Mike said and again headed for his mess.
At 11-30, Mike went to dinner, he was told he that he had the afternoon watch with Shinner Wright, he was told that as of the afternoon he and Shinner would be working together. They would be working a sis hour watch system, midday till six, then midnight till six in the morning, then they would be off for twenty four hours coming back on duty at six pm, or 18-00. that would mean that Mike would be able to go to Valletta on the Tuesday and meet up with Nann and they would have the whole afternoon together plus some. Mike and Shinner started their duty at just before twelve, Mike was shown the way things were done on board, he was shown the officers board, the logbook, he was also shown the ship's routine, not only for the day but for the next three months. Mike noted that at the end of August, the whole squadron was out at sea exercising with other ships in the Malta area, they would be away for up to four weeks, calling in at Sicily on the way back.
The first six hours went very well, and at the end of there watch, they had there evening meal, this comcisted of eggs beans sausages and chips, with tea or coffee. The kitchen or galley on Bossington was very small, but as most of the crew had wives or girlfriends ashore, including the skipper and Jimmy, the only men on board were watchkeepers and single men. After his meal, Mike went to the bathroom and had a shower, he also washed out his underpants and socks and hung them on the lines provided to dry out. back in the mess Mike sat at the mess table and put pen to paper, he wrote to his mother and father, telling them about his trip out, the fantastic weekend he had had with the Taylor's, and that the Taylor's and Maureen send their love. At around 9 Mike pulled the little curtains across on his bunk blocking out the lights in the mess and tried to get a couple of hours sleep. It was hard that first night, there were noises that Mike had never heard before, like the air ducts, pumps and generators and the water lapping against the ships hull, plus the movement of the ship, not that it moved very much, alongside the pontoon, just a gentle up and down movement. As Mike got used to the noises, he allowed the movement of his floating home to gently rock him to sleep.
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