Algeria Here I Come
by: E Walk
(© 2008 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 11
Going Home

I was awakened the next morning by Allie touching me, “Dad, please help.  This sore on my arm is starting to itch.  Can you please take off the bandage so we can see what is happening?  I don’t want to walk around the rest of my life with the thing on my arm.”

I took Allie into the bathroom and unwrapped his wound.  It was indeed starting to heal, but it was still too soon for him to go without a bandage of some sort, “Son, it’s looking really good, but we need to wait until the stitches disappear before you can resume normal activity.  I know it is difficult.  The itching just means that it is healing.  It is best that you continue to wear the sling for several more days so you don’t overexert it and pull out the stitches.”

I could tell Allie was frustrated, “Allie, get into the shower and I’ll help you wash your hair and body except for one certain area.  You can wash that part with one hand.”

“Dad, that’s so silly.  You can wash my penis and it won’t bother me.  I trust you to not try to do anything with me.”

I climbed into the shower with Allie, in my briefs, and washed his body and yes even his penis and testicles.  He looked at me, “Dad, those wet briefs are even more suggestive than you look when you’re naked.  Dad, we’re all males, so why do we have to hide our physical equipment when it’s just the three of us?”

 

I hugged Allie, “Son, get out and I’ll help you to get dry after I shampoo my hair.”

I started to think, ‘What’s the problem with boys seeing men naked.  They are curious about what they’re going to look like when they grow older.  Why should we run around as if our sexual apparatus was a secret.  I mean Allie has already seen me naked.’

I got out of the shower and Allie was standing there waiting for me.  I dried him and he looked at me, “Dad, do you want me to help you get dry?”

 

I shook my head no, “Allie, I can dry myself, go get your clothes out and I’ll come help you get dressed.  Make sure you wear something you will look good in, since you might have your picture taken today.”

I finished drying my body and hair, wrapped a towel around my waist and went to help Allie get dressed.  He was trying to pull his briefs on, but was almost falling over because he could only use one arm and hand.

I helped him get dressed and suggested, “Son, why don’t you call room service and order us breakfast.  Order whatever you want while I go get your lazy brother out of bed.”

I went and shook Brahim and blew in his ear.  He sat up trying to remember where he was.  He looked at me, “Ed, that was evil. Help me, my leg is a little stiff, or should I say a lot stiff.”

I pushed him back on the bed and undressed his wound because there was some blood on the bandage.  I tried to pull the bandage away without hurting him, but it was sticking to the blood that had oozed out of the wound.  I finally got the bandage off and went to get the things to wash the wound.  I was washing the wound when Allie returned.  “Dad, the food is here.  What do you want me to do?”

“Allie, sign for it and get a $10.00 bill out of my wallet and you know what to do.”

Allie took the money and returned almost immediately, “Dad, this man says I can’t sign for the food because I’m a minor.”

I stood up, forgetting that all I had on was a towel, “Give me the stupid ticket.”

While I was signing the ticket my towel slid off my body and I was standing there naked.  The young room service attendant looked as if he were frozen.  Allie looked at him, “What’s the matter, haven’t you ever seen a naked man before?  Dad is beautiful.  Here, take this and stuff it in your briefs and keep your mouth shut or we’ll have all of the hotel staff coming in to check out my Dad.”

When the young man had departed, Brahim lit into Allie, “Alexander, that was no way to act in front of a stranger.  You need to be more diplomatic.”

Allie took exception, “Brahim, we aren’t in Algeria anymore.  We won’t have people looking over our shoulders and I want to be my own person while I can.  I’m still in a state of shock, thinking that we might get to go live with Dad.  Now chill out and let’s eat and then Dad can make sure you are clean.  Dad, please go put some briefs or a robe on so Bra will be able to eat.”

After we were dressed, I called the front desk and asked if someone could come and help us with our luggage.  The same young man who had brought our breakfast arrived.  Allie opened the door, “Dad, the young man, who was here earlier this morning, came to check you out again.”

The young man was blushing.  I looked at his name tag, “Hank, don’t mind him.  He’s was shot and lost so much blood that he lost his mind.”

The young man looked at me, “You’re kidding, aren’t you, Sir?”

I shook my head no, “I’m not kidding. Both he and his brother were shot in the last three days.  Now do you suppose that you could get our luggage and take it to the lobby.  We are scheduled to be picked up at 10:00 by our limousine.”

The young man collected our luggage and we went to the elevators.  When we got off the elevator, I went to the reception desk and reported that we were leaving and I would like to settle the account.  The attendant pulled the records, “Mr. Waller, everything has been prepaid.  In fact, the party who paid for your accommodations is due a refund because you didn’t eat here last night.”

I wanted to ask who our benefactor was but decided that would not be the thing to do.  We were approached by a gentleman, “Mr. Waller, I’m Jacob Wordsworth.  I’m here to take you and the two Mr. Safis to the American embassy and then to the company headquarters.  I trust the accommodations were satisfactory.”

I looked at the gentleman, “Mr. Wordsworth, the accommodations and service were impeccable.”

 The young man who had picked up our meager amount of luggage was loading it into the limousine.  I handed Allie another $10.00 bill, “You know the drill, Son.”

As the young man was closing the trunk, Allie stuffed the bill in the young man’s coat pocket.  “Here, this will keep your other testicle warm.”

Mr. Wordsworth looked at me, “Mr. Waller, what was that about.  We need to be going.  T. Morris is expecting us and you gentleman need to be ready to depart at five o’clock.  I hope you have your passports with you.”

As we were getting into the limo, the young man made an exaggerated move  as if he was sticking the bill in his briefs.

Allie leaned against me, “Dad, that was fun.”

We were admitted to the United States embassy after Mr. Wordsworth showed some sort of badge.  We stopped in front of the reception desk and were directed to an office that said it was the visa office.

The three of us handed the young lady our passports and she returned mine immediately.  She left and returned very shortly with Brahim’s and Allie’s passports, “Gentlemen, you are cleared to enter the United States.  I don’t know who you are, but you must be important.  Requests like these usually take several days.”

We climbed back into the limo and the next stop was a building that said Shell Oil Company.  Mr. Wordsworth opened the door of the limo as we exited and he led us to the reception desk where we were issued temporary badges.

We walked to the elevator and got off on one of the upper floors.  Mr. Wordsworth led us to what appeared to be a conference room.  He opened the door, “Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to present Mr. Edward Waller, Mr. Brahim Safi and Mr. Alex Safi.  As we entered, the people assembled  around the table applauded.

A lady stood, “Please join us for lunch, Gentlemen.  I’m Theo Morris.  Gentlemen, we have your seats saved for you to my right.  We are anxious to hear how you were able to catch the people who were skimming the profits from the refinery at Oran.”

After we were seated at the head of the table with Ms. Morris, I nodded, “Ms Morris, I think it would be better if I have Allie tell you about it rather than me.  It was he who made it happen.”

Allie told the story of what had happened and how he and Brahim had gotten wounded.  The participants were looking at Allie in amazement.  I intervened, “Everything that Allie said was true.  The Algerian government provided us with all the support we needed and that is why we are here today.”

Ms. Morris stood, “Gentlemen, we truly appreciate all of the fine work that you did and we are sorry Alexander and Brahim had to be injured.  The headquarters of Shell Oil Company in Houston is eagerly awaiting to greet you when you finally get back in Houston.  Now, I suggest that we eat or you will miss your rides home.”

The doors opened and we were served lunch of a small filet mignon steak with chips and a salad.  I had to help Allie cut his steak.  As soon we had finished eating, Mr. Wordsworth interrupted, “Gentlemen, we need to be going if you are going to be in time to catch your ride to the United States.”

We stood and I thanked Ms. Morris and the people for the wonderful lunch, and we made our way to the lobby and to the awaiting limousine.  We had been riding for almost two hours when Allie announced that he needed to go to the bathroom.  In fact, we all did. The driver stopped at a pub and we relieved the liquids from our bodies.  Mr. Wordsworth must have explained what was happening because we left without anyone saying anything to us.

When we arrived at the dock area of Southampton, I suddenly realized that we were going home by ship rather than flying.  I should have noticed when it was taking so long to get to here, that we weren’t going to either Heathrow or Gatwick airports since I had flown in and out of them before. 

We pulled up beside a big luxury cruise ship and Allie looked at me, “Dad, are we going to the United States on that big boat?”

I started to hug him but decided that would not be a good idea because of his wound.  I patted him on the leg, “It appears so, Son.”

Having never been on a cruise ship before, I had no idea what to expect.  The limo pulled into the unloading zone and a porter took  the bags as the chauffeur unloaded them.  Mr. Wordsworth looked at us.  “I took the liberty of putting luggage tags on your bags while you were at lunch.  You might want to take your briefcase and your laptop with you.  You will need to go through the security check point, just like you would if you were going on an airplane.  Your baggage will be taken directly to your stateroom.  Here are your tickets.”

He walked us inside the building, “Gentlemen, enjoy your trip.  All I can say is that you must have powerful friends.”

The queue moved quickly and once we cleared the security check we were met by a young man who was wearing shoulder boards with stripes, so I assumed he was an officer, “Sirs, may I see your tickets, please?”

I handed him the tickets. “Welcome aboard the Paradise, Gentlemen.”   He pointed, “If you will go to station one, the young lady there will assist you.”

As we were walking to station one, Allie looked at me and quietly asked, “Dad, why are we going to station one and all those people are standing in the lines.  Are we going to be in a bad room or something?”

I shrugged my shoulders, “Allie, I’ve never been on a cruise ship before, so I have no idea what to expect.  I don’t think we have the proper clothes to be on a fancy cruise ship.”

I handed our tickets to the lady at the station.  She looked at them and made a phone call,  “The Waller party has arrived.”

I had a sinking feeling in my stomach.  She looked at us, “Gentlemen, may I please see your passports?”

She examined them and looked at Allie, “Young man, your even more handsome than your photograph.  Brahim, you’re better looking than the photograph, also.  Mr. Waller, I’ll take both of them.  Gentlemen, ordinarily, I would be keeping the passports, but you are going to need them to fill out these forms since this was a last minute reservation.”

She handed me some forms and the passports.  “Gentlemen, please complete these forms as soon as possible and turn them in at the purser’s desk.  They will collect your passports at that time.  Here are the keycards to your stateroom.  Albert (pronounced Albear), please assist Mr. Waller and the two Mr. Safis to stateroom 1001.”

Albert picked up my briefcase, “Gentlemen, if you will follow me, I’ll show you to your suite.”

We went up an escalator and were met at the entryway to a walkway to the ship by a photographer who wanted to take a picture of us  as we boarded the ship.  I agreed and she had us pose so the ship was in the background.   Albert had taken my laptop so I could put my arm on the shoulders of my two companions. 

As we were about to enter the ship, Albert turned to us, “Gentleman, make sure that you have the card with your name on it.  Security will be taking pictures of you with your card as you enter the ship.  Each time you leave or enter the ship you will be required to show your card, so it is very important that you not loose it.”

Albert handed his card to the security person and he entered it into the machine and handed it back to Albert.  Allie went next and the security person had him stand on a box to take his picture.  The two lines went quickly.  We entered into the central atrium or foyer and it was absolutely stunning.  Allie was standing there and it was as if his head was turning 360 degrees. 

Albert urged us to continue, “Gentlemen,  if you will follow me, I’ll take you to your suite.”

We walked to a set of glass elevators and waited our turn; when we got on with several other people we started to the tenth level.  The elevator seemed to take forever since people kept getting off and on but Allie was fascinated watching everything that was happening.  As a matter of fact, so were Brahim and I.

When we exited the elevator on the tenth level, Allie was walking beside Albert.  We started toward one end of the ship and Allie asked, “Are we going to the front or the back of the ship?”

Albert answered, “Mr. Safi, we are going forward to the front of the ship.”

Allie looked at Albert, “Please call me Allie, so I know whom you are talking to.”

We walked to the very front of the ship and there was a hallway that went across the front of the ship.  Albert slid his key in the slot and opened the door, “Welcome to your home for twenty days, gentlemen.”

We walked in and Allie stepped back, “Albert, how many people are going to be living in the room with us?”

Albert looked confused, “As far I know, it will be just the three of you, unless you invited someone else.”

I looked at Albert, “Albert, you need to understand that we had no idea that we were going to be going home by ship until we arrived at the pier.  None of us have ever been on a real cruise ship before.”

Our luggage was setting there and Albert asked, “How much more luggage will you gentlemen be having?”

I looked at the luggage, “Albert, what you see is what we have.  It looks as if we are going to be doing a lot laundry the next twenty days.  Is there a laundry room on board?”

Albert laughed, “What you should have said is, ‘Albert, you are going to be busy for the next twenty days.  All you people need to do is put things you want laundered and dry cleaned in a bag and it will be taken care of at no cost.   Now, if you gentlemen will show me which room to put the things in, I’ll put your clothes away so you can relax.”

Allie had been looking around and was checking out everything, “Mr. Albert, put Mr. Waller’s and Brahim’s clothes in the room with the big bed.  I don’t want to sleep with either of them, because they snore.  I’ll take the little room over there and maybe I can get some sleep. Can we eat the fruit in the bowl?”

Albert was very proper, “Allie, you can eat it all, and if you want more, just call me and I’ll bring it for you.  You can even tell me which kind you would prefer.”

The chimes on the doorbell rang.  I looked at everyone.  Who can be visiting us already?  We don’t know anyone.

To be continued...

Feedback always welcome:     

Editor's Notes: Indeed, I must admit, I am wondering who might be visiting them. 

I have to wonder who might be interested in meeting them.

I am so glad that they are out of Algeria, and hopefully safe and secure from danger. 

Of course there is still the possibility that one of the criminals could have either followed them on board or alerted someone aboard the ship that they are there and therefore they are still in danger.  I certainly hope that is not the case. 

The other worry that I have would be that if the ship stops at other ports of call during the trip home, someone involved with the criminals might have discovered where they were, board the ship and try to harm our friends.

I know I am being paranoid, but, well, you never know, given the fact that they cost the criminals quite a bit in money and personnel.  Let us keep our fingers crossed, so to speak.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 01/16/09