Chapter 73

Upon awaking, we discovered that the dorms were truly frozen. The girls had no place to go. So ... I took the old Suburban to the local lumberyard, and explained what I wanted. They sent me to the local office furniture store.

Luck was in. They had a panel system that locked together, and formed little boxes.

"Cubicles," he said. "They're soundproof."

"It's a temporary set up," I explained. "When the dorms are running again I won't need them."

"We don't rent."

"Bummer, got any used?"

"No," he did make a suggestion though. They were dismantling several Lake Freighters in Detroit. Maybe I could find what I was looking for there.

Maybe I could.

"Hells bells, boy, We'll deliver!" said the guy at the ship demolisher. "Just tell us what you need."

"Bedrooms for three coeds at UofM."

"Wood, or steel?"

"Either."

"Let's go look."

The older Lakers are wooden. They have a front wheelhouse and quarters for the captain, his mates, and a good sized cabin on the back for the crew. The back outfit would make a decent house. It has a kitchen, a lounge, and several bunks in private rooms. The stack generally runs through the middle of the deck house, because the boilers and engine are at the stern. Easy to heat, spring and fall. Hell to live with in the summer. There were several rear deck houses to choose from. But only two forward wheelhouses.