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

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Chapter 13

 Light Blue Versus Dark Blue

Philippe offered his arm to Mrs. Sorenson and led us to a table in the middle of the left side of the dining room.  He helped her get seated and Doctor Sorenson was seated so he could see the entrance to the restaurant.  The two grandsons commandeered Allie and sat next to their Grandfather and the circular table leaving Brahim and me to sit next to Mrs. Sorenson, who asked us to call her Ingrid.

Once everyone was seated, a young waiter approached the table.  Philippe looked at him, “Doctor and Mrs. Sorenson, Josef will be your head waiter during your trip.  He will make sure that you and our young heroes don’t starve this evening.”

Josef handed us a menu, “I will be assisted by Carlos on this cruise. Andre will be your sommelier.  He will be with you shortly while you decide what you would like to eat this evening.”

The three of us newcomers were overwhelmed by the choices.  Allie took the bull by the horns, so to speak, “Doctor Sorenson, how do we know what to order?”

One of Doctor Sorenson’s grandsons answered before their granddad could,  “Me and Jimbo usually just order whatever the Chef’s recommended dinner is, if we don’t see anything on the menu that we really like.  If we don’t like it, we can always go to the Lido Restaurant and get something we like later.”

Allie looked at the speaker, “John, what do you do with the food you ordered if you don’t like it.  Isn’t that a waste of food?”

John answered, “We usually force ourselves to eat it unless it’s really bad, and then we throw it under the table for the waiters to clean up.”

Our conversation was interrupted by Andre, our sommelier.  “What may I bring you to drink?”

Mrs. Sorenson started, “I’ll have a Martini on the rocks with a twist of lemon, please.”

Andre looked at the Doctor.  Doctor Sorenson nodded, “Andre, I’d like a Rob Roy on the rocks, please.”

Andre moved to the three boys, “Gentlemen, what might I bring you?”

John spoke up, (I only could tell it was John by where he was seated.), “We’ll have three Roy Rodgers with two cherries and two pieces of orange, please.”

Andre started to toy with the boys, “Will that be three for each of you, monsieur?”

John shook his head, “No, that’s for the three of us.  We’ll have something healthy with dinner.”

Andre looked at me, “And you, Mr. Waller?”

I wondered how he knew my name, but answered, “I’d like a glass of iced tea please?”

Brahim nodded, “I’d like the same as Mr. Waller.”

Josef returned and asked, “Are you ready to order?”

Mrs. Sorenson started, “I’ll have the cream of potato soup with the seasoned croutons, a small fresh fruit salad, the broiled salmon with new potatoes sautéed and the fresh asparagus with Hollandaise sauce, please.

Doctor Sorenson nodded, “Josef, I'll have the same.”

John looked at Josef, “I’ll have the same thing, but make sure you have the vacuum cleaner handy, because we may be leaving a lot of food under the table.”

Josef moved to Allie, “What may I bring you, Master Alexander?”

Allie got the strangest look on his face, “Josef, how did you know that my name is Alexander?”

Josef was undaunted, “The entire crew knows about you and your brother being shot, and that the two of you and Mr. Waller are considered heroes in Algeria.  They booted you out of the country to keep you from getting killed.  Now, what would like to eat?”

Allie got serious, “Please bring me something soft that I can eat since I can’t cut anything very well with my arm in a sling.  I’ll just do as John suggested and push it under the table if I don‘t like it.”

Josef looked at the menu, “Allie, why don’t you try the Chef’s recommended meal?  It is basically what the others are having except that the entrée is beef tips on pasta with broccoli in a cheese sauce.  It smelled really good when I smelled it.”

Allie nodded his approval and Jimmy said, “I’ll have what Allie is having, but might I have asparagus rather than the broccoli?”

Josef moved to Brahim, “And you, Mr. Safi?”

Brahim looked at Josef, “I don’t think I’ve ever had salmon before, so I would like to try it and the other things that Mrs. Sorenson ordered, but I would like minestrone soup.”

Josef hadn’t been writing anything down.  I looked at him, “How are you going to remember everything that we have been ordering without writing it down?”

He looked at me, “That’s what we’re trained to do, and besides I have a tape recorder in my pocket and each of you has been assigned a number.  Now, Mr. Waller, what would you like to eat?”

I started to laugh, “I’ll have a cup of the chicken rice soup, a Caesar salad, and the veal Parmesan on noodles with the fresh beans with almonds.

Our drinks were delivered almost immediately and Carlos put a seafood cocktail in front of us, “Welcome aboard the Paradise, Senorita and Senores.  Enjoy your seafood cocktail compliments of Captain Brower.”

Allie, Brahim and I watched to see what everyone did and we followed the lead of Doctor and Mrs. Sorenson.  When everyone had finished their seafood cocktail, it was as if a giant vacuum cleaner swooped down as the plates and crystal disappeared and there was a bowl of soup in front of us.  Carlos had brought two baskets of fresh bread and some fancy crackers.

I was watching as the three preteen boys practically inhaled their soup.  I looked at the boys, “Guys, how are we going to be able to tell which of you is Johnny and which is Jimmy when we see you out on the decks?”

Both boys took offense at my question, “Mr. Waller, we prefer not to be called Jimmy and Johnny any more since we’re going to be eleven very soon.  Please call us John and Jim or Jimbo?”

Allie looked at me, “Dad, look at the two guys.  Look at their eyes.  James has pale blue eyes like a hazy sky and his eyes look as if they have little rain drops in them.  John has dark blue eyes that look as if it is almost nighttime and there are lights sparkling in them.”

Jimbo added, “There is another difference too, but we won’t show you right now.  I have a dimple on my right cheek that you can’t see, and John, has one his left cheek.  You’ll be able to see them when we wear our bikinis to swim.”

Our salads had been delivered during the discussion of eyes and dimples and had disappeared.  The plates had been whisked away and our main courses were set before us.  They were elegantly presented.  Before we could start to eat, Andre set wine in front of us and announced, “Compliments of the Captain.” 

He had four bottles in wine chillers.  He started with the Sorensons with a bottle of white wine and filled their glasses.  Then he took two different bottles and filled John’s wine glass with a clear liquid and Allie and Jimbo’s wine glasses with a red liquid.

He took the other bottle with white liquid and poured Brahim a glass and took the bottle of red and filled my glass.  Doctor Sorenson raised his glass, “To a safe trip.” 

The rest of us raised our glasses and  took a sip of what was in the glasses.  I was watching Alli as he tentatively raised the glass to his mouth.  He stopped and smelled what was in the glass before he took a sip and smiled.  He looked at Doctor Sorenson, “I’m so glad this doesn’t taste the same as that bitter stuff we had in the cabin this afternoon.”

John looked at Allie, “Maybe your Dad and brother will let us try a taste of the bubbly in your cabin sometime when our grandparents and parents aren’t around.”

Allie looked at the boys, “I didn’t think that your parents were with you?”

Jimbo nodded in the negative, “They aren’t yet.  They’re going to join us in Copenhagen.  Dad had some things he had to do because of some things that happened in a refinery in Algeria wherever that is.”

I had a funny feeling and I looked at the two boys, “Jim and John, where do you live?”

John answered . “Our home is in Houston, Texas.  Our Dad works for the Shell Oil Company there.  It seems as if one of the people who works for him had some problems and Dad had to stay home and take care of it and that’s why he couldn’t go to London with us.”

Allie started to say something but I shook my head no, “Guys, we will be looking forward to meeting your parents.  Your last name wouldn’t just happen to be Thomas would it?”

Jim looked at me, “Yes, how did you know?”

I started to laugh, “Guys, your Dad just happens to be my boss.  We will be living in Houston, too.

Our conversation was interrupted by Josef’s arrival with a cart with the available desserts.  He explained what the choices for the evening were.  Allie’s eyes got really big, “Mr. Josef, I’ll have one of each.  Would you please bring me a doggie bag, so I can save whatever I don’t eat for a midnight snack?”

Josef laughed, “Why don’t you pick one for now and I have Albert come and pick up the rest so they will be fresh when you’re ready for them.”

As we were finishing our dessert, Doctor Sorenson announced, “The Captain is leaving so I need to go.  Johnny and Jimmy, take the gentlemen to the theatre, so they can find out what is going to be happening during the cruise.”

Josef looked under the table, “Good, I won’t have to be sending you gentlemen a bill for the carpet cleaning tonight.”

Captain Brower stopped at the table, “Mr. Waller and the two Mister Safis, I would like to invite you to join me at my table tomorrow evening for dinner.  Johnny and Jimmy, why don’t you join us too, so you can keep Allie company?”

Allie answered for us, “We’d very much like that, Captain Brower.  Thank you for asking us.”

Brahim leaned over and whispered, “I think we might need to put a muzzle on Allie.”

The Captain smiled as he and Doctor Sorenson departed.  Jimbo looked at Mrs. Sorenson, “Grandma, are you going to the theatre with us?”

She nodded, “If Ed and Brahim don’t mind being seen with an older lady, I think I’d like to go with you.”

I looked at her, “We’d be delighted to escort you, Ingrid.”

We were starting to leave the dining room when John giggled, “Wait, I see an older woman over there.  I’ll ask her if she wants Mr. Waller and Mr. Safi to escort her.”

That caused all three of the boys to start to giggle,  Mrs. Sorenson smiled, “I think we’re in for a fun time on this cruise now that Jimbo and John have found someone they can corrupt.”

When we arrived in the theatre, the Captain welcomed the passengers aboard and introduced the key members of his staff.  The Cruise Director took over and explained some of the activities that would be happening the next day.  The show closed with the dancers and singers doing a couple of  production numbers to welcome the passengers on board.

As we were standing to leave, John looked at his Grandmother, “Grandma, we’re going to the Lido Restaurant and have a snack.  We have our keycards so we can get in, and we promise we won’t set the cabin on fire if you aren’t there.”

Mrs. Sorenson looked at Brahim and me, “I’m going to the piano bar to meet my husband.   Would care to join us?”

Brahim answered, “Thank you for asking ma’am, but my leg is starting to ache, so I think I’ll pass.”

Allie looked at me, “Dad, why don’t you come with us and see what the Lido restaurant is like.  Maybe we can find something there for breakfast.”

I looked at the three boys, “Mrs. Sorenson, I think I’ll go with the three boys to make sure they don’t get sick from overeating.  I don’t know how they can be thinking about eating after the big meal we just had.”

Jimbo looked at me as if he was disgusted, “We’re growing boys, don’t you know, and our metabolism is on overdrive?”

I started to laugh, “Well, I suggest that you put the brakes on your metabolisms or you’ll look like blimps.”

When we got on the elevator. John punched the button for the Lido deck.   When we exited the elevator, we were in what looked as if it was a huge cafeteria.  One side of the big room was dark, and Jimbo explained, “After the evening meal is over, they close one side and just keep one side open.  This place is packed during breakfast and lunch, and it’s hard to find a place to sit sometimes.  Let’s get a piece of pizza and something to drink.  Mr. Waller why don’t you and Mr. Brahim sit at that table, and we’ll join you shortly?  Then you can get something to eat if you would like.”

Jim and John returned to the table carrying a tray with a drink and a big piece of pizza.  Alli was following them with a young crewmember carrying his tray,  The young man set Alli’s plate, silverware and drink on the table.  Allie looked at the young man, “Thanks for your help Wilhelm.”

The young man smiled, “That’s what we’re here for, Alli.  If you need anything else, let me know.”  He took Jim and John’s tray as he was leaving.

Allie looked puzzled, “How come everyone knows who we are?”

John answered, “I’ll bet almost every member of the crew knows who you are by now.  You’re probably the only kid on board who is wearing a sling, and I’m sure they know that you and your brother were shot.”

Alli looked at me, “Dad, aren’t you going to eat anything?”

I looked at the three boys, “No, thank you.  My metabolism is working in slow motion tonight.”

As the boys finished, Wilhelm took their plates and utensils and took them to a cart that was in a cubicle.  We stood to leave and John asked, “Allie, what’s your cabin number?”

Allie had to think, “It’s 1001.”

Jim nodded, “That’s clean at the front of the ship.  Let’s go to the elevator at the other end of the ship and go down.  It’s two floors down, but it would be easier for your brother to walk across the deck  than weave through the corridors down stairs the entire length of the ship, since we are at the very back.”

It was a pleasant evening outside so it was refreshing to walk across the deck.  We three novices were gawking at everything.  Allie was wowed by the huge swimming pool.  In fact there was an indoor pool and an outdoor pool.  John added, “There is another pool that’s reserved for us younger people just below the back of the Lido restaurant.  During certain times, they have a life guard there to watch us.  There aren’t any lifeguards up here.”

When we entered the area at the front of the ship, we could hear music and singing in the background.  Jim announced, “That’s the Panorama Lounge.  We can’t go in their after 6:00 o’clock at night because we‘re too young.  We go there sometimes for tea in the afternoon or to grab a snack in there in the mornings but not very often.  There’s always some place open that is serving food.”

As we were getting off the elevator on the tenth floor.  I looked at the two boys, “It sounds as if you do this quite often.”

John shook his head, “No, we only do it once a year when Granddad takes his vacation from his job at the hospital and gets free passage for our Grandmother and our family for being the ship‘s doctor.  It’s like he’s getting paid to take a vacation.”

When we arrived at our cabin, Allie slid his keycard into the slot, “You guys want to come in for a while, and we can sit on the patio or do something?”

Jim nodded, “Sure, we don’t have to be in the cabin until 10:30.  We have about 30 minutes before we get grounded.  We can call our stateroom and leave a message for our grandparents telling them where we are.”

When Allie opened the door, Jim and John just stood there looking around.  Finally John sputtered, “No wonder the crew knows who you are.  Your pictures have probably been posted everywhere so that they will recognize the three of you.  Now I understand why the Captain invited you and us to sit at his table tomorrow night.  Not only are you heroes, but you are occupying one of the owner’s suites.”

Jim added, “This makes our cabin look like a closet.  Maybe we’ll just move in with you and sleep on the sofas.”

I looked at the guys, “J. and J. me thinks thou doth exaggerate.  I suggest that you call your grandparents and tell them where you are so they don’t worry about you.”

John went to the phone, “Mr. Waller, your message light is blinking.  You must have a message.”

“John, call your Grandparents first and then I’ll get the message.  It can’t be anything that important, surely.” 

To be continued...

Feedback always welcome:     

 Editor's Notes:  I don't know about you, but I have a strange feeling that the message might actually be somewhat important. 

I am really happy that Alli has met some people his own age and has made new friends.  I am really looking forward to the next chapter of this story.  I don't know why I always say that, because I always look forward to the next chapters. That should simply be a given. Let's just say that I always love E Walk's chapters.

Let's all make sure we tell him how much we like his stories.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 01/30/09