Race Day -Chapter IV
Crews from some of the other boats were starting to drift into the Sextant Bar and Grill. It wasn't quite 7:00 pm yet but the handshaking and backslapping was already going on. The crew from the Glory were getting drunk and obnoxious. Most of the other boat's crews weren't there yet, but the place was filling fast. I had called the bar a couple of days earlier to reserve a table. My regular table, back in the far corner. Just to be sure no one would take it, I got there about a half hour early. I ordered a beer and began moving 6 chairs around the table. I'd even fixed a little sign saying "Reserved for the crew of the best damn boat ". It sat in the middle of the table. I had to make sure that Mason and Janell would be seated so they could look straight at the Awards Table. Their chairs were marked with a card that said "Boss". The rest of the crew would set along the sides and I would set with my back to the proceedings. It was going to be a special night for all of us. At exactly 7 pm they all walked in. All together and with big silly grins on their faces. I waved and whistled to get their attention. They all waved and came back to the table. None of the other crews paid much attention to them as they passed by. Well, I guessed it was a time for everyone to celebrate on their own. And besides, the whole place was about half drunk already. But it did strike me I remembered, that during all of our races; no other crew seemed to be very friendly. Sour grapes I guess. Mason slapped me on the back as he passed by and said "Glad you could make it". I told him that it had been an honor to ride with him and the rest of the crew. But I then made a real goof. I said.." I'm sorry you didn't have the fellow that used to be your Trimmer. He sure missed one of the best seasons of racing I've ever seen. I know you miss him, but I'm kind of glad he didn't show up. Otherwise, I couldn't have met you and had this great experience." Continuing, I said, "I've never had such an exciting, AND, winning ride in all my life. Thank you. Thank you all! " The whole table had frozen. They all looked at me with a sadness in their eyes. Not a word was said. My heart sank, I've just said something really wrong and I didn't know what to do about it. Kevin looked at me and sighed, "We miss him, we just miss him" Beth took me by the hand and said. "We tried to find him; we tried lots of times to find him, but we never could. We really miss him" Then Janell put her arm around me and, like the Mom she seemed to be she whispered in my ear. "We couldn't find him, but we found you. You're part of our 'family' now and we all love you" I stood and said.. "I really FEEL like a member of the family. Now, can I buy you all a Championship drink? " Everyone smiled again and started chatting to each other. Mason laughed, Then in a quiet voice he said..."The Awards ceremony is about to start. Why don't you wait until it's over?" You know, It's funny, but, I don't remember seeing any of them drink. And come to think of it, I was never invited out for an "after the race" beer with them. I guessed they must be Teetotalers. I sat down. TINK, TINK, TINK I turned around in my chair and saw the Fleet Commodore rapping his beer glass with a spoon; He was trying to get everyone settled down. It wasn't working too well. I recognized the crew of the Mi Corazon. They were being really rowdy, pouring a beer down the front of their captain. A lot of noise and silliness was going on everywhere in the Sextant bar. HONK! The Commodore had resorted to blowing one of those gas powered fog horns that boaters have. That got the attention of most of the drunks in the place. Even the bartender ducked down behind the bar. The Commodore began, "OK, OK, I know you want me to get to our business quickly so YOU can get back to the business you've been doing. .You've had way TOO MUCH business already." Hoots and whistles from the crews. .. HONK! .. The horn got everyone's attention for the second time. He began, "First I want to thank you for an excellent series this year. We saw some outstanding racing and some very exciting finishes. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to the Almost winners. It wouldn't be a race without you." (There was a ripple of applause...) "And, we should say a big thank you to the weathermen... They gave us such perfect weather every race. Good winds and lots of sunshine" I jerked to attention and spun around in my chair. I was astounded by the words. "WHAT? What did he just say? He must be out of his mind. We'd had 5 race days of rotten fog and drizzle. What the hell is he talking about?" I started to stand up and say something but Mason reached over and grabbed my arm pulling me back down into my chair. He wasn't smiling anymore. The rest of the crew had a blank look on their faces. The Commodore droned on; "With such great conditions it's understandable that 3 of the Top boats did so well. So without further adieu, I present the 2007 Fall Series Championship awards." .."In 3rd place, Firebush! " There was cheering and banging of beer glasses on a table as the Captain stepped forward to receive the trophy. "Coming in 2nd and only missing the top award by a few points, Is.. Mi Corazon The announcement was followed by a chant " Heart on, Heart on, Heart on"... Everyone in the bar cheered and laughed The Commodore waited until the noise had died down. .. I started to stand up with my beer glass raised ready to salute my friends. "The Championship trophy THIS years goes to....... "GLORY!" With 3 firsts, A 2nd, and a 4th. Let's all give a big round of applause to the captain and crew of... " I was stunned, I couldn't speak... What in god's name was going on here? WE'D been the one with all those wins! My anger grew. There was a bitter taste in my mouth. I was so damned mad I was about to run up to the microphone and call them all .A bunch of Bastards! WE...had WON all 5 of the damned races and now they didn't even have the guts to mention us! I'd spun around and was starting for the Commodore's table when a pair of arms, strong arms, wrapped around me and pulled me back. It was Chuck and he wouldn't let go. In a second, Janell was beside me whispering ..."It's alright, it's alright. Don't worry. Everything will be alright. ". Even with her calming voice I was still confused and angry. We'd all busted our asses to get those wins. And now, not one word of recognition from the damned Race Committee! Chuck still held on and forced me back down into my chair. Beth, Kevin and Mason were looking at me with the hint of a smile on their lips. Smiles of kindness and warmth. I was about to cry and they were trying to make ME feel good. I sat there for a minute with my head down on the top of the table. "Mason", I sobbed "Why don't you say something? What's going on here? I lifted my head and looked around. The Sextant Bar had a NO SMOKING rule, but the place was full of gray smoke. With my eyes full of tears, and all the smoke in the room, it was hard to see my friends at the table. It was as if the drizzle and fog that had plagued us on the river had moved indoors. I COULD see Mason clear enough.. He was. laughing. That crazy Snorting, Belly shaking laugh.. But there was NO sound. His mouth was moving but nothing was coming out. Then I heard the Commodore banging on his beer glass with a spoon. I turned around to hear what he was going to say THIS time... He began in a low voice. "As most of you know, this is not only an Awards Ceremony. We're here tonight to pay tribute to and celebrate the memory of some folks we loved. Friends and respected competitors to some of us." "Tonight is the 5th anniversary of the tragic sailboat sinking that resulted in the deaths of an entire family. To those of you who don't know, the boat was an experimental design made of high tech materials. That construction may have been one of the factors that contributed to the sinking. Those materials were, apparently, transparent to RADAR. During the last race of a series, on a windless, foggy night 5 years ago, the boat drifted into the shipping channel, A Barge being pushed by a tug, hit and sunk it. The Tug pilot said that he saw no navigation lights and that his RADAR had no contacts. At the Coast Guard hearing that followed it was determined that the Barge's flashing Yellow/Amber forward light, as required, was operating properly. Apparently, the sailboat had no way of moving out of path of the Barge and Tug. We're sorry to say that the family, Brother of the captain, Chuck Todd and his son Kevin, Mason Todd, captain and designer of the boat, along with his wife Janell, daughter Beth and son Ned all perished. All of their bodies were recovered except that of his son. Ned's body was never found.. "Join me in a moment of silent remembrance for the sailing vessel Yesterdays .. her captain and crew........." I don't know what else he said. I had gone numb. I couldn't breath, I was shaking and my heart was pounding Slowly turning away from the Commodore. I sat down in the chair at the table. They were all there.. smiling, waving. What I thought had been cigarette smoke earlier was a cold and thick wet fog. My friends were slowly MELTING into that fog... Thinning away. BECOMING the Fog. I watched them fade away into nothingness just like the Stern light had. Every Monday evening I'm here at the Sextant Bar and Grill .. Here at the last table, the farthest one back, next to the window that looks out on the water. He'll come to ask me again... Each Tuesday at 1700 I'll stand at the end of Slip "F", Hidden Cove marina. They'll come looking for me. I'll be ready. I've got my Yellow foul weather gear on I'll be there. ..My friends will need a good Trimmer. END... © r.ahseln october 30, 2007 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
