A houseboat. Finegan Fine

Common aboard. They just went to get the goods.

I’ll be taking you across.

______________________________

The legless man is seated on some boxes, his crutches beside him and

his one leg stretched out in front of him, bracing. His dark hair is

unkempt and his clothing dirty and tattered. He has a short beard, more

from the lack of shaving regularly than an attempt to have a beard.

Appearance is the least of his concerns.

Joey has come up to sit near him, Barney lying down at his feet. Joey

is curious and finally cannot contain his curiosity.

How’d you lose your leg?

The legless man replies ,

Accident, where I worked. Chain broke.

He has been glancing at Joey during this exchange, gauging his

reaction. Joey meets his eyes, not ashamed of his curiosity as he sees

the legless man is not touchy.

Does it hurt?

Joey jumps off his box and comes over to the leg, his nose a few inches

from the stump. He puts his finger out to poke the stump, then

hesitates, glancing at the legless man.

The legless man pats his stump, showing Joey it is sound.

19

Don’t hurt no more. Sometimes the leg itches

though.

Joey looks up at him and smiles, catching the joke, and then returns to

his seat on the box. He has grown serious, pondering the man’s

troubles.

I used to get a check every month, but don’t no

more.

Then, more a comment to himself than to Joey, he mutters under his

breath.

Wouldn’t do any good anyhow. Nobody wants

paper.

The legless man seems to notice for the first time that Barney is

missing a rear leg. He points at the dog.

How’d that happen?

Joey looks up and over his shoulder to the tall pile of boxes where

Finegan has stationed himself. The lookout post. Finegan tells the

tale.

Lost it to a shark. Small hammerhead. He

had ahold of part of my catch, pulled right up

on deck. I guess he thought Barney looked like

a better meal. I’ve never quite forgiven

myself.

The legless man, being a positive person, puts a positive spin on it

all.

Aw, hey, he looks like he’s doing fine! Me too.

Gets me out of emptying the crap pot, that’s

for sure.

He throws a grin up at Finegan.

The ladies feel sorry for me.

______________________________

The houseboat is making its final run from the island to the mainland,

with the last of the crowd. Only four people at a time were allowed due

to the weight. They are carrying as many peaches and pecans as they can

stuff into their clothing or hang over their shoulders.

Finegan has distributed these last four so that two each are on a side

of the houseboat. His booty from the island has been loaded into boxes

at the front. Joey is distributing the weight from front to back. He

hops over the roof of the house to do so, carrying the peaches and

pecans in a plastic bag which he empties into boxes at the rear.

Finegan says,

20

I’m still riding too high back here. You folks

move on toward the back, please.

While they’re waiting for the pedals to lower fully into the water, a

young woman has moved toward the rear of the boat and is flirting with

Finegan. She has one haunch on a box and has pulled her skirt up,

ostensibly to keep cool in the midday heat, exposing an attractive leg.

She is wearing a low-cut summer dress, but has heavy leather boots on

her feet. She keeps glancing at Finegan, smiling. She is young,

attractive, and buxom.

This place needs a woman’s touch.

Finegan has a half full bottle of whiskey beside him and has been

taking a sip now and then, this being his last trip and the day having

been exhausting. He is trying to be moderate, in consideration of

Joey’s reaction to his last drunk, but sneaks a sip whenever Joey has

his back turned during his many trips across the roof to balance the

load.

Nothing personal, but I’ve got my hands full

already.

The flirt leans forward showing her ample cleavage.

Not like getting your hands on these.

Finegan holds up the whiskey bottle, burping, and shakes his head.