Their voices dropped to an indistinguishable mumble of words, but I knew the result would be serious. I’d get even with that tally man before he knew it! I’d teach him to squeal on me after he had given me a black eye. Whatever thoughts I had about the matter left me when Father came into my cabin. He wasn’t angry, as I expected him to be. Rather he seemed unusually quiet and thoughtful. He sat on the edge of my bunk and after a pause, he said:
“Joan.”
“Huh?” I murmured, with my face still hidden in my pillow to hide my telltale black eye.
“Turn over and look at me.”
“I know what you look like,” I countered, still face downwards. “You haven’t changed since I saw you a couple of hours ago.”
“Yes, I have changed. I’ve changed my mind about you.” I didn’t know what to think about his sudden tack, so I stalled for an opening to defend myself:
“Can’t you let a fellow sleep that don’t feel good?”
Father took me by the shoulders and turned me over. He didn’t say a word about my black eye, he seemed to overlook it.
“Joan, we’re going to be here in port about thirty days. I gotta get a new foremast set in, and a general overhaul of the vessel when the cargo is discharged.”
I still couldn’t see where he was heading.