Chapter Thirteen
It was Monday morning, and Mike was at the police gate at 08-45, he told the police officer on the gate, that he was waiting for the buffer. The police officer was Maltese, and his English was not that good, but he seemed to understand what Mike was saying, Mike just hung around until the allotted time. At 08-55, the buffer arrived. "Well, " he said, "It looks like your father taught you to be punctual," Mike smiled, "yes chief," he said, "the Palmer's are a proper service family." "Ok," the buffer said, "come with me." he then told the police officer on the gate that Mr Palmer would be with him for the rest of the morning. Mike followed the buffer to a small classroom near the church. "Right," he said, "sit down, we need to get the security over first." Mike was given a pass to get into the naval section of the base, then he had to fill out a form to say he would not say or repeat anything he was told to anyone, other than those on the list, that he was given. After that, Mike was given two books to read, The Naval Ratings Handbook, and Seamanship Manual Volume 1. "Right," the buffer said, " I am the buffer or Chief Bosun, I am the go between, between the seamen and the 1st Lieutenant, he gives the orders, and it's my job to see that they are carried out, ok." "yes Chief," Mike said. "Right, from now on you will call be buffs or chief, got that." "Yes buffs," Mike said. "Ok, for the rest of the morning, I need you to read as much of the Naval Ratings Handbook as you can, but don't worry about it, you will be able to take that book home with you. Over the coming weeks, I will be setting you little tests, to see how well you are doing, and if what you are being taught, is sinking in. Tomorrow, we start for real, with the Seamanship Manual, and other bits and pieces. Right I will be back in one hour. By the way peddler." he said, " tea or coffee, and how many sugars." Mike looked up from the book, "coffee please, two sugars, then Mike remembered, "thanks chief," The buffer walked out of the room leaving Mike to study the book, he sat back and made himself comfortable. There was a knock at the door. "Come in," Mike said, There was an Able Seaman stood at the door with a steaming cup of coffee, he came in and put the coffee on the desk in front of Mike. "Hear you are lad," he said, "One brew two sugars." "Cheers," Mike said, The Able Seaman asked Mike what was going on, and Mike explained that he was joining the Royan Navy when he got back to England, and until then, he was preparing himself for whatever lay ahead. The Able Seaman seemed impressed. "Good on you son," he said, "with the old buffer looking after you, you'll be ready for anything. In fact, I reckon you'll sail through your training. Drink your coffee before it gets cold. By the way, what's your name mate." Mike looked at him, "Palmer, Mike Palmer." "Bleeding heck, your dads not our chief writer by any chance." "Yes," Mike said, "he is," " Well bugger me, I've just been cleaning out his office, bit of a stickler for cleanliness isn't he." he laughed and left the room. Mike carried on with his reading. The book Mike was reading was very interesting, it showed the cloths that sailors wore, and the things he did on a daily basis, it showed naval time, naval flags, morse and flags of the nations. Mike was so engrossed in what he was reading, he didn't hear the buffer enter the room. "Well," the buffer said, "something must be interesting," "very," Mike said, "this is brilliant, I never realised how much there was you needed to know about the navy." " Well peddler," the buffer said, "at least your keen, let's see how you do tomorrow. Ok, you have your new pass, so I expect to see you here at 09-00 sharp. Ok, you can carry on." "Thank you chief," Mike said and left the classroom. As he was walking down the main road of Manoel Island, a car drew up alongside him, it was Roger Taylor. "Hello Michael, how was your first day." "not bad," Mike said, "Come on," said Roger, "I'll give you a lift, no doubt you want to see Maureen." "Yes please sir," Mike said, "she wasn't very well yesterday when we were out in Sliema." "Ok," Roger said, "Let's go home and see how she is today." As they were talking, Mike's dad came past, he stopped his car and Mike told him he would be home later, Ken gave him the thumbs up sign and carried on along the road and at the bridge turned right. Mike jumped into Mr Taylor's car and they headed to Msida.
In the Taylor's flat Nann was surprised to see Mike. "I thought we weren't going to see each other till midweek," she said. "I know love," Mike said, "But I was worried about you, you were a little under the weather yesterday." Nann put her arm around his neck and kissed him. "Your a born worrier," she said. Grace was watching all that was going on, then looking at Roger, she said. " You don't worry about me like that." You what," he said, "of course I worry about you, anyway I need to change." Mike watched Grace and Roger head into the hall. "Maureen love," Grace called back, "make Michael some lunch." Nann got up from the sofa and headed into the kitchen, Mike followed her, and as she went to take something out of the fridge, Mike put his arm around her waist and held her against him. She moved back into him enjoying the feeling of his closeness, Mike nibbled her ear, he asked how she was feeling, she turned in his arms and they kissed. "I am fine love, it was hot yesterday, and I felt tired, when I got home I went to bed and slept for a couple of hours and was feeling much better afterwards." "So, how was work today, your first day at the N.A.A.F.I." "Very good," Nann said, "All I have had to do today is keep the shelves filled up, it's been easy, but tomorrow the boss wants to put me on the till he says its easy, I have to go into work half an hour early for training, and if I prove myself, I will be on the till all the time. I can't wait." As Mike and Nann were talking Grace and Roger came back into the lounge. "Maureen love, your dad and I are nipping into Valletta for a couple of hours, will you two be ok." Nann looked at her mother, We'll be fine," then looking at Mike, "won't we, what time will you be back." "Well love I have to drop in on Mike's mum in the way back, so let's say around 6." they both walked from the flat, Mike went onto the balcony, looking down he watched as Grace and Roger headed for there car, as they made to get in Grace looked up at the balcony, saw Mike and gave him a wave. Nann was now calling him from the lounge, walking back in he saw the cups of tea on the table and corned beef and lettuce sandwiches on a plate. "Tuck in love," Nann said, "there's more if you need some." After there food, Mike sat down on the sofa, once Nann had done the dishes she joined him, sitting together and talking, they not only put the world right but there own lives as well, at one stage Mike had his hand around Nann's shoulder, his fingers playing with her bust, but Nann pulled away from him. "Sorry sweetheart, please don't touch me there, it's very tender at the moment." Mike removed his arm, and Nann lay her head in his lap, Mike ran his fingers through her hair and as he did so Nann was moaning and sighing all the time. By the time Roger and Grace had returned, Mike and Nann were so comfortable it was almost a crime to separate them. "Come on you two love birds, and you Mike, you have to get yourself home," Grace said as she was rousing them. Nann sat up, "I was having a lovely dream," she said, "another ten minutes and I would have been able to tell you if it was a boy or girl." Mike stood up. "I have to go," he said, "I have work in the morning," then looking at Nann said," so do you." Nann walked Mike to the door. "I will see you on Friday," Mike said, " That's the start of our weekends now, your busy at the shop, and I have to study for the navy, so maybe, for us, it will be better that way." Nann nodded and kissed his mouth. "I agree, let's do as we planned to do in the first place, work Monday to Thursday, and the weekend is ours." Standing in the hall, they kissed one more time and Nann turned Mike round and pushed him gently out of the front door. "Go," she said, "go".
When Mike got home his mother and father were keen to know how Mike had gotten on, on his first day. Mike took the piece of paper from his pocket and looked at it, then to his parents looking at him said," as you know, this morning I had to sign the secrets act for the Royal Navy, so I am afraid unless your names are on this list, I can't tell you anything, I an not permitted to divulge anything to anyone who is not on this list." Ken asked to see the list, then smiled, " he's right Dorothy, " Ken said, "My names not on the list, so yours definitely won't be." Dorothy stormed into the kitchen to make the evening meal, as she left the lounge, she spoke under her breath. "Bloody Navy." she said. Ken looked at his son, "well how goes it," Mike smiled at his father. "Say no more son, say no more. But I will be having a word with the buffer tomorrow, the cheeky sod.
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