Today, Marshall and Lee finish up their excursion tour of the island and head back to the ship for some hot tub time. What's next for them? Blackbeard's Castle is set for the next day, along with Roger and his friend Kenny. Assuming nothing happens to change that. Find out in this week's episode of Moving Forward. Then go see what the other Briefers are up to. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
The cruise boat returned all too soon, for Marshall’s taste.
He could have easily spent another few
hours playing in the water with Lee, or relaxing with drinks on the beach. As
they shuffled single file back onto the boat, along with the other passengers,
Marshall was grateful Lee had insisted on slathering so much suntan lotion on
him. Some of the poor tourists resembled boiled lobsters. He noticed some of
these poor souls headed straight to the bar, probably to fortify themselves
against the pain with a little liquor.
Now that everyone had had a chance to relax and they were
homeward bound, it was time for more fun. The calypso band struck up again, as
the tour guide announced that everyone
was to be barefoot dancing. Marshall wasted no time in losing his shoes, and
sweet-talked Lee into doing the same. People of all ages joined in, dancing with one
another, and gyrating to their hearts’ content. No one cared how well they
could or couldn’t dance. It was all just for fun.
After the dancing came the limbo contest. “How low can you
go?” everyone chanted while the most limber passengers attempted to dance
beneath the limbo pole. Marshall tried to talk Lee into entering, but he said
he’d rather watch, but Roger was game, so they both tried their luck. They
didn’t do too badly, laughing and squirming under the pole as it drew closer
and closer to the ground, but others were better and won the prizes. It didn’t
matter. This was just for fun.
They arrived back at the dock, a happy but exhausted group.
Marshall, Lee, and Roger headed back to the Wandering Star, as the others
dispersed to other destinations.
“I wouldn’t mind shutting my eyes for a few minutes before
dinner,” Marshall commented, as they stripped off their clothes in their cabin.
“Once I rinse some of this sand off first.”
They took quick showers, then curled up on their bed and
took a brief but refreshing nap. After that, they called Roy, just to say hello
and give him an update on their trip, and to see if anything was shaking at
home. He told them all was well and not to worry about a thing.
They ate dinner with Roger and invited him back to their
cabin afterward to try out the hot tub. They ordered drinks from room service,
and relaxed in the hot tub together, watching the most spectacular sunset
ever—purples and pinks and blues cascading toward the horizon, as the sun sank
lower and lower before disappearing from view.
“We still on for Blackbeard’s Castle tomorrow?” Marshall
asked, although he was pretty sure he knew the answer.
“You know it,” Lee said. “What about you, Roger?”
“I’ve been texting with Kenny,” he said, “and he’s
definitely interested. “I’m going to see him first thing in the morning, so
maybe we’ll see you there?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Lee said.
“Hey, I have an idea,” Roger said. “Who wants to do some
shots? They make some very interesting combinations. Just about anything you
can think of.”
Marshall and Lee exchanged glances.
“Sounds good to me,” Marshall said.
“I’m game if you are,” Lee agreed.
Just then, Roger’s phone began to play a Donna Summers song.
Lee laughed. “’Hot Stuff’? Really? Let me guess. Kenny’s ringtone?”
Roger blushed, even as he grinned. “Yeah. But it’s perfect
timing. He’ll remember some of those shots I was wanting to try.” He reached
for his phone, which sat on the table beside the hot tub, and answered it.
“Hey man, we were just talking about you,” he said, “what’s
going—” His thought went unfinished, as he listened intently then whistled. “No
shit? Wow, that’s bad news.” He listened some more, as Marshall and Lee looked
at one another, concerned.
“Wait a second, let me ask.” He held his phone against his
chest. “That’s Kenny, his plans fell through after all, mind if he joins us?”
“Of course not,” Lee said. “He’s more than welcome.”
Marshall nodded, even as he wondered what was going on.
Roger gave Kenny the cabin number and talked for just a second before hanging
up.
“Something going on?” Lee asked. “Not trying to be nosy or
anything…”
“No, no, it’s cool. It’s not like that. Kenny’s plans fell
through, but that’s not it. Looks like somebody on the ship got hurt.”
“I hope not too badly,” Marshall said. “Was there an
accident or something? Is he going to be okay?” How awful to be hurt when you
came to have fun.
“Sounds like it was no accident. Someone beat him up.”
That wasn’t good, not at all.
“Kenny’s going to see what he can find out before he gets
here. He knows the purser. He might have some information.”
All they could do was settle back and wait for Kenny.
Marshal couldn’t help but think that even Paradise had its problems.
to be continued
Now go see what the other Briefers are up to!
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