V
The next day the captain appeared at mess.
The third mate said, "I want to thank you for what you done for me, Captain."
"Don't mention it," the captain said, bisecting a pilchard with his fork.
"It's nice Wanda gets to be in the Festival," Jane said. "It pleases my husband so."
"I'm very excited about it all," the steward said.
The first mate turned his egg over with his fork and peered suspiciously at the underside of it. "Hit's all right fur you uns ta feel excited. Martha an' me are still purty bitter."
"Yes," Martha said, "I don't see why the children couldn't take care of themselves."
"Who'd get the new crew out of ice?" John, the second mate, said.
"That," the first mate admitted, "is th' problem. Can'tcha even cook an aig?" he asked the steward.