Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
We heard a whistle and saw a familiar face smiling and waving us over.
“Hey Randy, fancy finding you here!”
“Oh yeah, I am a sucker for seafood, and happy hour is usually pretty lively here.”
“I see the lovely Liz is here having dinner with Armchair Steve over there.”
“Yeah, she's beautiful ain't she? God knows what she's doing in a dump like Keehi. She's
a mystery for sure.”
I looked over at her and Armchair Steve and felt suddenly very envious of him. She ap-
peared to be enjoying his company and was in an animated discussion about something. I
noticed how well the yellow canvass watch strap looked on her tanned shapely arm; it was
almost the same yellow as the tank top that molded to her lovely chest. Her long, blonde
hair fell in thick coils around her neck hiding some of her young face. Armchair Steve
looked up and saw me staring at his lovely date. I looked hastily away, but not before I saw
an angry shadow pass across his face, a face I did not care for or trust. Liz followed his
look, recognized us, and smiled slightly with a flutter of her shapely hand. Steve caught the
wave, and another look of impatience flitted across his face.
We ordered drinks and enjoyed the ice cold beer along with the breeze coming across a
booming reef in the darkening ocean. Harbor lights started twinkling on, and a balmy night
crept pleasantly in. I tried concentrating on the small talk at our table but was unable to take
my eyes off Liz. After the third beer, Randy took off and Gavin and I sat looking about us
at the guests; they all seemed so occupied and content. We had one more beer and decided
to head back to the boat to make dinner; it was a week night, and we had to work in the
morning.
On the way out I walked past Liz to say goodbye. I tapped her on the shoulder, and she
turned around and smiled. Before I could say anything, Steve had picked up a bread knife
from the table and hissed something ugly to me as he suddenly lunged over with the knife
inches from my neck. I recoiled in shock and disbelief. Suddenly Liz yelled out, “It's
OK Steve, for heaven's sake, these are my friends!” He sat back slowly and silently, still
glowering at me.
I had recovered somewhat and said in a shaky voice, “Jesus Christ, why don't you pull a
knife on me next time guy? I was merely saying hello.”
We were shocked and embarrassed at this turn of events, a rather ugly end to an otherwise
wonderful day. We said goodbye to Liz, who was very shaken by the incident, and took our
leave.
