Hazel proved herself an understanding pal that afternoon. She made it seem the most natural thing in the world that Ned should want to see a tiny baby. Kitty thought she had never seen anyone so frightened and so awkward as Ned when he first took that little blanketed form in his arms. But with every passing minute his stiffness and embarrassment grew less. Before their brief call was over he had promised to carve the baby a wooden bowl and spoon for his first eating.
“I like to carve things,” he said. “I made one for my own youngster two months ago.”
He seemed to expand to new importance as he spoke. When Kitty and Ned left together Hazel stayed on for a longer visit with her friends. As they drove away Kitty remarked, “I didn’t notice till this afternoon that you’re one of the boys who work in the galley.”
“I like it pretty well there,” admitted Ned. “I like doing things with my hands. Glad they didn’t put me where I have to work at a desk or anything like that.”
“And it helps a lot when you like the people you work with,” said Kitty, not without an ulterior motive.
“My boss is fine—good natured as they make ’em.”
“Krome you mean? Chief Steward Krome?”
“Only one trouble about him—he snores like a steam engine. You punch him and wake him up, and he goes right back at it again.”
“Isn’t there a thin, dark fellow named Punaro down in the galley?”
“Yeah! He collects waste from over the hospital and does things like that. Looks after the kitchen garbage too.”