She was nice but she was ugly. I mean the guys called her Mr. Conner or Lurch. Gayle was tall, six foot, and skinny. And she did her hair like an old ...time school teacher or sometimes it was just a frizzled mess. Even today she was dressed like a homeless person. We ate and talked and when we were done I picked up her plate and mine and carried them to the sink and set them down. When I turned around Gayle was right there face to face with me. She started kissing me, I mean like she shoved her. Back in the living room, I offered the men a beer, they all gratefully accepted, and I opened mine and sat down on the couch. Two of the men sat down on either side of me, and the other two men sat down on the couch directly opposite us. Paul began talking about the dimensions of the property, and all that sort of business. Jason finished up his beer, and I told him there was more in the fridge. He left the room to get more for all of us, and Paul continued to speak. About 20 minutes later, we. And she could see by my face Ididn't know. "Well maybe you don't know about all the new gadgets theyhave coming out. Don't worry, I know just where to go and what to lookfor."We then sat down to eat. Annie told me all about her job which I wastotally clueless about. I had no idea she was doing so well and in fiveyears she had gotten three promotions. Now she and Brenda were in the topechelon. I was sadly impressed. Sad because I knew nothing about this andimpressed because she had done so. The rest of the chain clanked through the capstan. Connie hosed off the anchor as it seated itself. She threw the come-along across the anchor in its seat and locked it down. "Bow station secure!"The Captain spoke to the gun crew. "National salute. Twenty-one guns. On my mark. Mark!Andrea fired the first salute ... and immediately began to reload the Winchester M 97 10 gauge signal cannon. Junior and Andrea began the count.Together they sang it out, "If I wasn't a gunner I wouldn't be here ....