Mike was back on board Bossington at just before 5, he went straight to the mess to change into his whites. The evening meal, was corned beef, buttered potatoes and salad, as Mike was sat in the mess eating, Shinner asked him how his first twenty four hour leave had gone. "Great." Mike said. "really good, I have noted, that on Saturday, that we are off at six in the morning." "That's right," Shinner said. "And if I were you, I would get ashore as soon as you can." "Yes." Mike said."I think I will."
The watch went well, Mike and Shinner were relieved at 23-45 and Mike slept in his bunk properly for the very first time, it took him a little while to get himself comfortable, but once he was, sleep soon came. At five he was being shaken. "Come on peddler, time to get up, there's a mug of tea on the table, and the chef has a fry up waiting for you in the galley, so fill your boots." Mike got up, had a quick shower and shave then back in the mess got dressed for his watch. Going to the galley, he could smell the food, but all Mike really wanted was a couple of slices of buttered toast, an egg, some bacon and beans. Taking that back to his mess he sat at the table and ate. "Bloody hell peddler," Shinner said. "Your keen." "Not really," Mike said. "But I would rather be up and out, than late." Shinner slowly got out of his bunk, he then disappeared, coming back to the mess with a plate of sausage, eggs and toast. "Do us a favour peddler," Shinner said. "Go up and relieve the other two, I'll be up in a mo." Mike left the mess with his half drunk mug of tea in one hand and a half eaten bacon and egg toasty in the other. On the gangway, it was just getting light. "Ok, you two." Mike said, "I've come to relieve you." "Where's Shinner," Irish asked. Just finishing his breakfast."Mike said. "He will up shortly." "Ok peddler, do you think you can handle it till he arrives." Mike smiled and nodded. "I reckon so," he said. "Go on you two get your heads down." "Bugger that for a game of soldiers," Irish said. "I am going home to a nice warm bed, I'm going to snuggle into the wife, and if she should wake up, then...Nuff said." Both men stepped over the gangway and walked across the small square. At just before nine, Mike was stood by the jackstaff ready for morning colours, his job, when he heard the pipe was to raise the union jack. As the morning progressed, stores came on board, which Mike helped with, plus the morning mail. The captain went ashore at 10, he had as he said, a meeting with the base captain and would be away for the rest of the day. As soon as the skipper went ashore, the Jimmy went ashore, but as Shinner said. "The only meeting he will have is with his misses."
At just before 12 Shinner and Mike were relieved by Scouse and Bing. Mike went to the mess to pick up some extra cash, and still in uniform went ashore, as he passed the Q/Ms desk he took four small packets and placed them into his wallet, then headed over the gangway and up into the small square. As Mike got to the bridge at the end of Manoel Island road, he saw the bus coming, so made a mad dash to the bus stop. When Mike got on the bus it was totally full up, so with his small grip in his hands he stood behind the driver and held on. As the bus pulled into the bust station, Mike noted that the time was 13-05. Mike walked to the cafe as fast as he could in the heat of the day, the sweat was running down his back like a fast flowing river. By the time Mike got to the cafe, Nann was already there sat under a sunshade. When she saw him she smiled. "You're soaked through," she said. "You look as if you have just got out of the shower." She patted Mike's back. "Yuk," she said. "Have you got a change of clothes in your bag Michael?" "Yes I have, but where can I change around here." Then Nann remembered. "Michael love, there are toilets inside the cafe, you go and change, and while you do that, I will order. What would you like, cheesecake and iced coffee." Mike nodded, then picking up his bag he went into the cafe. Ten minutes later Mike was back at the table with Nann wearing a cotton shirt and shorts, the uniform in his bag.
As they sat eating, Mike felt two hands resting on his shoulders, and before he could look to see who it was, he felt his cheek being kissed. Mike looked at Nann. "That can only be one person." Nann leaned her head to one side, her face one of total disbelief. "Well," she said with some bitchiness in her voice. Mike looked up. "It can only be."He said with a smile on his face. "The kiss of your older sister." Mike was pushed forward in his seat."Michael, you say the loveliest things."Grace said, then sitting down, she looked at her daughter. "Don't look so down in the dumps love," Grace said. "Michael and I came to an understanding yesterday morning, didn't we Michael." "Yes, we did. "Mike said. "So," Nann said. "You two are plotting behind my back." "No," Mike said. "Not plotting, not even scheming, just organising." "Calm down love," Grace said. "Don't get your knickers in a twist." She stopped to order coffee and a ham sandwich. "You and Michael here." she put her arm around his shoulder. "Want to tie the knot before we go back to England, correct." "Yes mummy," Nann said. "We do." "Ok, then we can organise something, we have four months. How much money do the two of you have saved so far." Mike looked at Grace. "We have about £700 between us. Grace sat there he mouth open, a look of shock on her face. "How much." she asked again, then put her hand up, "No it's ok, I heard you the first time, I just didn't believe my ears, so," Grace said. "By the timer, the next four months have passed, you will both be sitting pretty, and I can see no major problems why this marriage shouldn't go ahead." Well Mike said, we are going to need a place of our own, I don't know how much that is going to cost, but yes, I think we will be ok." he looked at Nann, she had a huge smile on her face. "You leave the home problem to yours truly." Roger and I can sort that out. So Michael, slightly changing the subject. Michael love when are you next off." "Saturday," Mike said. "From six, why." "That's what I thought, take this." Grace handed Mike a key. "Its the front door key, and when you have finished work on Saturday, come straight home. Oh and if it's ok with you, Roger and I would like to take the canoe out, we would like to go to our private little beach and have a quiet afternoon." She smiled at both of them, then getting out of her seat she kissed them both on the cheek saying. "See you both later."
Walking back up the main street of Valletta hand in hand, Nann was very happy, she had gotten everything she had wanted, the boy of her dreams was now a man, and the man of her dreams was to become her husband, as she thought to herself she gently squeezed Mike's hand. Would he make a good father, well he was good with her, though she had noticed on a couple of occasions, he had been a little overbearing with her, but that was no bad thing if a child needed a heavy hand, then this was the man to give it, and it would she knew be done in a loving way. Nann had only seen Mike once get mad with anyone, and that was that priest. With her, he never got really mad, only the one time, when she had accused him of going with girls in England, and that turned out to be untrue. He did smack her bottom though, and it did sting, but then after she had realised that her fears were unjustified and she said sorry, he accepted it and asking if her bottom was ok, when he saw the red mark, he tenderly kissed it better. Mike was talking to her. "Nann, are you ok, you were miles away." "Sorry," Nann said. "What did you say. " "I was saying, shall we go for a swim this afternoon, we can have a dip down by the boatyard, and then we don't have to worry about our clothes." "Ok love," Nann said. "Whatever you want to do."
Back at the flat, they were alone, there was a note on the table from Roger, saying he was going to pick up Grace from Valletta, they would be going into Sliema and would be back around 5. Mike looked at his watch, it was 15-00. "Come on love, we have two hours to have a swim." In the bedroom, Nann showed Mike the alterations she had done in her wardrobe and dressing table so that there was more room for Mike's gear. Mike smiled and nodded his approval. As they both stripped off and went to put on there bathing costumes, Nann looked at Mike, her eyes were saying, Michael, please make love to me, but Mike looking at her said. "Save it, save it for later tonight."
The water was lovely, it was very clear, and as they swam and played they were happy with there lot. Swimming around they would rest at one of the larger buoys, whilst there, Mike noticed that Nann was getting very frisky, her fingers were everywhere at the same time, and he had no way of stopping her. Then he looked up at the flat, on the balcony he saw Grace, she was waving them in. "Pack it in love." Mike said we're being watched." Nann looked up at the balcony and waved, then they both swam to the steps and headed for the flat with there towels wrapped around them.
In the shower, Nann seemed in a funny mood, a mood that Mike had never seen before. As he washed her back, she kept grabbing for him, saying."I need this." Even though Mike had promised to give her what she wanted in bed that night, she was all over him. At one point, she had her arms wrapped around Mike's neck, then lifting herself up, she wrapped her legs around Mike's hips. As she did so Mike pushed her back against the shower wall to keep his balance. Mike could feel Nann trying to connect her body with his. "Stop it, love, I'm not wearing anything," Nann whispered in his ear. "Stop worrying, it's that time." Mike felt himself being sucked into her, and as he held her against the tiled wall, his hands holding the cheeks of her gorgeous bottom, he moved with her, Mike could not stop himself, and Nann didn't want him to.
There was a knock at the door, it was Grace. "Come on you two, we're waiting to eat." As she said it. Nann gave a gasp and dropped her feet to the floor. Whispering to him she said." Bloody hell Michael, that was wonderful." As Mike and Nann stepped out of the shower and dried off, they headed to the bedroom to change, Mike went into the lounge leaving Nann to finish off, he apologised for the lateness, saying they had a little bit of trouble trying to remove some sort of oil from there bodies that they swam through while swimming. "That's ok son," Roger said. "Right, sit yourself down, we need your comments on the latest dish the wife has served up. In the middle of the table was a large oval dish of macaroni cheese.
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