Chapter 19

Junior popped in a week later... “What?”

“What what?” I said.

“You called.” Junior said, “That what.”

“A week ago,” I replied. “I settled ... no ... that’s not right ... I became resigned to conditions.”

“Now ... I’m confused,” she said. “What conditions?”

“Even though I can’t use her and she’s on my own property ... I’m paying insurance on my boat.”

“You have a boat?”

“A sinker ... but not sunk,” I said. “I had no idea repairs would cost so much. Wiring for a boat is three times as much as wiring for a house ... and that’s just the wire ... labor? ... oh my god. The people who owned the boat left the signed title and split with the dinghy.”

“Well ... at least you have it insured.”

And I grumbled about that.

“Where is this magical boat?” Junior asked.

“On the lot next to the motel ... across the street from the Sawmill Marina.”

“Ooo ... that was pricey, I’ll bet.”

“You have NO idea ... think summer prices and quadruple it.”

“I know the lot ... you’re going to put up a condo?”

“Probably,” I said. “I already have a developer sniffing around.”

“Johnson and Jackson?” Junior said.

“Yup,” I agreed, “They’re already threatening “Eminent Domain.”

“Take ‘em to court ... Mom nullified that. They think they’re still in the States.”

She reviewed the conversation and said, “Why isn’t your boat IN the marina storage.”

“No room at the Inn ... it’s too big.”

“Too big? How much too big?”

“One hundred and twenty-five feet length on deck ... plus a fifteen foot bowsprit...”. Before she could make the conversion, I said, “46 meters.”

“Holy Shit!”

“Yeah,” I said, “That too.”

“Okay ... I’ll bite ... let’s go look.”

“Either we walk, or use your watch,” I said.

“It’s snowing,” Junior said.

“Walk or watch ... Okay ... that was quick.”

“I thought you said ‘boat’.”

“Big, ain’t she,” I said.

“She’s so wide,” she said.

“41 feet, one third of the length.”

“ ... my house isn’t this big.”

“I thought you lived in a castle,” I said.

“Nope ... stick built bi-level rancher. In Saint Johns ... practically on the border ... no ... wait ... The FED-A gave me 42.6 north ... I forgot about that.”

“GAVE?”

“Yeah ... includes Flint and Lansing ... whoopee.” She said, “The two most polluted towns in Michigan.”