The Peter Charles - 28. Chapter 28

I went to the captain’s cabin to see where I could put another refrigerator. There seemed to be some spare space under the galley at the cabin level. I wonder what the previous owner had in mind for that space. Glen came in, “Glen, look we should be able to put a fridge here and maybe another freezer, what do you think.”

“Let me get the tape and I’ll measure the ones upstairs and see if we can do it.”

While he did that, I took a nap. I must have been really tired or exhausted because when Glen came to wake me, they had just pulled in the nets. “The boys did very well, now you need to go and show them you are okay. They are worried about you.”

With a cheeky smile, “And you?”

“I’m always worried about you. Sometimes I think you take on too much.”

“I love you, too. Let’s go and see the boys.”

Walking into the galley, I heard “Pappy” and soon I had someone wrapped around my legs.

“He has really taken to you. None of the other children have done that, is it because of his age?”

“Possibly but I’m not sure. The others were quite older except Peter and he asked if he could call me Dad. Now all of the boys, even Nicky slips up once in a while and calls me Dad and you Pop. That’s nice, it means we are special to them without infringing on their parents rights. I know I like it when they call me Dad, I’ll never have my own children and neither would you. I miss my family and maybe that’s why I’m trying hard to create a family with you.” Yes, that got me a hug and a kiss.

I reached down and picked up Adam. “Did you help with bringing up the nets.”

He shook his head no, “They said I was too little, I’m not too little, am I Pappy?”

“Well, maybe for the nets, but not for me to give you one of these.” I rubbed my face in his neck and he laughed. He gives the wettest kisses I have ever had. Scott brought me over a cup of coffee.

“You okay Dad?”

“Yes, Scott I’m fine. I guess I was a little tired, I only wanted to take a short nap.”

“Dinner is ready, so if you’re going to wash up, do it now.”

Laughing, “Yes, mother”

The boys were quite proud of themselves, they pulled and lowered the nets without me being present. I was proud of them as well.

Sunday’s four am pull just about did it, the holds weren’t full enough to go in but the boys wanted a full load. We agreed to pull the nets at twelve and then go home. I called Grace to find out about the boy, he was still unconscious.

The twelve pull did it, we were full and even carried some fish home in the net. The boys decided to fillet more fish, I had no problem with that. The bones were saved for the crabs, per instructions from the Crab Master. Andy was taking the boat in and about two miles out, he blew the horn three times. His dad couldn’t get over the idea of him piloting the boat. Then you hear, ‘anchors down, stern lines tied, bow lines tied. The boat engines were shut down and for a few seconds quiet reign.

Cannery truck there with men to help unload, Glen took off for the truck, the boys began to help unload, Uncle selling fish, Andy taking some shrimp to the Wharf, Barney went and picked out five lobsters for the Wharf. Nicky and Charles were checking weights and Charles had shrimp and lobsters ready for the crew helping us unload. This time I included a fish.

I was anxious to get to the hospital to check with Don on the boy. “Kev, we have a job to do, the kids expect us to deliver fish, I’m sure Mom has the grill ready, you can go with me tomorrow when I deliver the fish. In fact you can spend all day at the hospital, call Grace and let her know that’s what you’re going to do.”

I looked at Glen, he was right, there was nothing I could do at the hospital. “You’re right, let’s get loaded up and deliver fish.”

We did deliver fish, Charles got his kiss. I think he was worried about that. Mom did have the grill ready, hamburgers were on a plate ready to be placed on the grill. Dad said he wants to take a shower first and then he would grill the hamburgers. There was a new boy, Mom had to do her thing. The other boys stood around and watched, Frankie cried and I think some of the boys had wet eyes as well. While the hamburgers were cooking, it was pay time. We set up a system where each boy would sign the book, make his mark is what we told them, and get a pay slip. Before they started to come in, Glen and I agreed we’d pay the boys the full share, except for Adam he would get a smaller share.

Glen, started to call the boys in, the first was Nicky, we told him to make his mark, he drew a mermaid with an X after it. We told him who to call in next, and we proceeded that way till it came to the our new sons and the three boys we were fostering.

Adam was the first, when we told him to make his mark, we had to explain what that meant and of course the pirates, he put an A as his mark. Glen gave him an envelope with twenty-five dollars in it. He didn’t know what to do with it, “Adam, give it to Dad, he will hold it for you.” He was followed by Tommy, David, Joseph and Johnathan. We told them the same thing, Glen would hold it for them until we get home.

Now the next three, were something else. Steve, being older, had no problem but was surprised at the money. “I didn’t expect this much. The boys said the first pay was fifty dollars.”

“Normally yes, but usually the first time they don’t do as much. As they take on more responsibility, they get more. You boys pitched in and where helping with the nets, cleaning fish, doing jobs that the first timers didn’t do. You earned it in my opinion.”

He gave us a hug, which surprised both Glen and I. Next was Robby, his reaction was the same. “My mom isn’t going to believe this. We are going to see her today?”

“Yes, Robby, we have fish to deliver.”

And there was Frankie, he wasn’t able to work the boat, Glen and I agreed to give him the minimum of fifty. I told Nicky to get Jamie and carry Frankie in for his pay and mark.

By the time we were done, the hamburgers were ready. We sat around the picnic tables, Dad went and bought two more. We chatted about our long week-end. Dad mentioned that he had a good time, this time. He enjoyed talking to the other fathers and listening to the boys. He thought my cooks were better than some of the restaurants he had eaten in.

Later as the boys helped to clean up, “Kevin, I now understand why the boys seem so different from what I expected. They are assigned a lot of responsibility and freedom. I was surprised when they pulled the nets when you were sleeping. They knew the time to pull, it was Jamie, Andy and Johnny who organized the boys. Charles headed for the stern nets, it was as if you were there telling them what to do. John, Barney and I couldn’t get over how responsible and mature they acted. I think John now understands why there’s a change in Johnny.”

“Thanks Dad, that was a nice compliment. But it isn’t all me, there’s Glen backing me up. In fact Glen can do everything I do, except pilot the boat. We’ll have to work on that.”