ANNA—Funny I don't know nothing about sea talk—but those cousins was always talking crops and that stuff. Gee, wasn't I sick of it—and of them!
CHRIS—You don't like live on farm, Anna?
ANNA—I've told you a hundred times I hated it. [Decidedly.] I'd rather have one drop of ocean than all the farms in the world! Honest! And you wouldn't like a farm, neither. Here's where you belong. [She makes a sweeping gesture seaward.] But not on a coal barge. You belong on a real ship, sailing all over the world.
CHRIS—[Moodily.] Ay've done dat many year, Anna, when Ay vas damn fool.
ANNA—[Disgustedly.] Oh, rats! [After a pause she speaks musingly.] Was the men in our family always sailors—as far back as you know about?
CHRIS—[Shortly.] Yes. Damn fools! All men in our village on coast, Sveden, go to sea. Ain't nutting else for dem to do. My fa'der die on board ship in Indian Ocean. He's buried at sea. Ay don't never know him only little bit. Den my tree bro'der, older'n me, dey go on ships. Den Ay go, too. Den my mo'der she's left all 'lone. She die pooty quick after dat—all 'lone. Ve vas all avay on voyage when she die. [He pauses sadly.] Two my bro'der dey gat lost on fishing boat same like your bro'ders vas drowned. My oder bro'der, he save money, give up sea, den he die home in bed. He's only one dat ole davil don't kill. [Defiantly.] But me, Ay bet you Ay die ashore in bed, too!
ANNA—Were all of 'em yust plain sailors?
CHEIS—Able body seaman, most of dem. [With a certain pride.] Dey vas all smart seaman, too—A one. [Then after hesitating a moment—shyly.] Ay vas bo'sun.
ANNA—Bo'sun?
CHRIS—Dat's kind of officer.