Chapter 1

Absolutely, positively, completely! I have worn out my brain. I don’t want to glue another stringer or saw another rib as long as I shall live ... probably take at least 6 months before I can stomach looking at another sailboat.

“And that includes you!” I shook my fist at the sixty five foot catamaran, SVBasilisk parked against my pier.

That got a look from the folks trespassing my lawn on their way to the Pentwater Pier ... they turned around and got off my lawn! And I was too pissed to apologise.

The Antler has a bell on the batwing doors ... it rang twice. Once going in and once on the return bounce.

Ernie didn’t even ask ... he slid a frozen mug of fresh rootbeer down to my stool. It was vacant ... I pay for the privilege of knowing it’s MY stool

“Frank! Two Wendy’s and an order of fries!” He hollered at the kitchen.

He was circumspect and stood back ... all the way back.

“Miss Flintkote, what ever has overset you?”

I barked, “What makes you think I’m upset.”

It was then that I realized what I had done.

“Ernie ... forgive me. I need a vacation.”

“University of Texas, Austin, needs a substitute Math Instructor.” He slid a circled advertisement in Teacher, a job market rag in front of me. I perused the ad. I had the expertise, I had the Ph.D and I HAD to get away.

My Curriculum Vitae (CV) is on my phone ... so is my Parchment. I called the number.

“University Of Texas.”

A short conversation, I sent the photos of my bonafides, certified copies to follow.

“We don’t need them ... we need you. How soon can you get here?”

“Why the rush?”

“The Professor had a heart-attack on the job. Classes are in abeyance until we find a qualified substitute. The search for a replacement should take no more than two semesters ... and WE must conduct a search. Our charter requires it. You are qualified ... do good and we’ll give you precedence.”

“Give me three days ... I have to make arrangements.”

“Take a week. Class is at two in the afternoon. Tuesday week?”

“Yes.”

I pressed END. Immediately, I called David.

“Anderson Salvage.”

“David ... Surprise. I need a house sitter and the Cat pulled. I have to start a teaching position a week from this coming Tuesday.”

“We’ll pull the boat, winterize her and do any necessary repairs. Have you tried Junior?”

Again I pressed END and said ... rather loudly... “Junior!”

I was expecting Junior would be ruling her domain. She likes we Flintkotes. She sold me her summer home. I live in it. I ... well ... sometimes I impose...

She usually shows up in a couple of days.

What I got was...

From the kitchen came, “What?”

I bounced off my stool and headed to the back. I heard Ernie telling a tourist to “Get off the stool. That belongs to Surprise.”

The kitchen has batwing doors, just like the front, IN the right. OUT the other. Junior was elbows deep in the sinks.

“Hi Frank.”

“Surprise,” he said. “Are you going to steal my pot walloper?”

“Probably.”

He looked ... well ... put upon.

I turned to Junior, “I didn’t know you were in town.”

“I popped in for a Wendy, fries and a rootbeer and they put me to work. I was planning to sleep on the boat.”

“Nope ... you’re sleeping in my house. I’m leaving for a six months teaching position.”

“Where?”

“Ain’t saying.”

“Want me to deliver you?”

“You don’t know where.”

“UTAustin ... has to be, or you’d tell me.”

I looked surprised.

“Don’t tell Tyche. I plan of scaring her half to death.”

Junior said,” A Surprise, surprise.”

“Yup.”

We both chuckled. So did Frank.