Abe's Misadventures 7

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The same approach was applied during the war games and drills as previous exercises, the ship's crew performed well, and praise was heaped upon them by visiting inspectors. But it wasn't the same. Abe sensed a fraying of camaraderie, a dimming of pride among his shipmates. The only concrete thing he could identify was the largest portion of praise being focused on the new weapon system performance and the rest as an afterthought.

The dividing line was the main deck, with the superstructure, the ivory tower with technician workshops and officers’ quarters above, and the main deck and below where the working-class shops were located. Abe's shops were located below the ship's waterline, placing them firmly in working class.

Abe hoped he was wrong, but the little voice in his head reminded him of home, where a similar line existed between the white-collar professionals and working-class plebians. Academics, doctors, engineers, and businesspeople in the stratosphere above the laborers, repair people and farmers on the ground.

He wasn't wrong, but he was missing part of the full picture.

The ship returned to its home port routine of brief times in port and longer periods at sea. Weeks long patrols with no destination announced the experienced sailors called “cutting holes in the ocean” filled the months until the end of another year neared.

Abe submitted his first request for leave in order of his seniority, meaning last, and was fortunate to be granted time off coinciding with the school holidays, including Christmas. He had one thing on his mind, looking up Diane, an old flame from high school he kept in touch with through letters. He felt accomplished, grounded, independent, grown up. The fact he was actually living communally with over a hundred other men and didn’t even fix his own meals didn’t occur to him. It was just the nature of the job.

The San Diego airport was close enough to take a taxi. Abe fantasied about asking Diane to come live with him to San Diego until the taxi driver asked which terminal he wanted to go to, and reality crashed down around him. Abe’s small-town thinking didn’t expect a choice and he fumbled for his ticket, stammering out the information.

The flight boarding was directed enough for Abe to return to daydreaming, not once considering the possibility of being turned down. He had hinted at his ideas in his letters and didn’t receive any resistance. Abe continued in his imagination through the shuttle to the dreaded bus terminal, retracing his departure day steps. This time he was floating on a cloud, nothing bothered him.

He made three phone calls from the bus station. One to home to find out from his brother Ken that their father was too drunk to come pick him up. Another call to the taxi driver who was thrilled for an unexpected fare. And one last call to Diane to let her know he was in town. She agreed to meet him after he settled in at home.

Abe returned home to a minor welcome. His father was already asleep, his mother and brother had early mornings the next day, so Abe retired early as well. They would celebrate later, his mother suggested, closer to Christmas.

Abe hardly slept in anticipation of his date with Diane.

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