Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
in went up to her office to speak to her. Apparently she was foaming at the mouth because
of the noise and the dust. Crestfallen, he came back down the stairs with the news that we
had to resume the work with shovels only. Gavin was muttering darkly out of earshot of the
dragon, “Couldn't the bitch close her fucking windows; I mean for Christ sake, she's got
an air conditioner in her office.”
John Anderton happened by and asked why we weren't using the Bobcat. Gavin briefly
explained. “Get back on the machine and leave her to me, you guys,” he said in a curt,
businesslike fashion. He disappeared up the steps and into her office, and we resumed work
with Gavin happily back in the driver's seat again, grinning triumphantly.
It's uncanny how drama can get around quickly in a place like the Keehi boatyard. The
grumpy Mexican was watching this little scene unfolding as he went about his trash remov-
al chores on his beloved forklift. One or two other local Hawaiian yard hands had become
aware that something was afoot. It was old news that John and Carole did not get along
too well. Now the door to her office flew open and powerful John Anderton came quickly
down the steps, two at a time. He was scowling darkly, something we rarely saw on his
face. He came swiftly over to where we were, saying again, “Carry on working you guys.”
“OK John,” we both grinned, chorusing in unison. He turned and abruptly departed. Within
minutes we had a cloud of dust and a din going on as before.
Gavin was not very adroit at maneuvering the little old Bobcat, but he was getting the hang
of it. He was scooping up the old shot that lay about the small fenced-in yard into an ever
increasing pile in the middle, and I shoveled out the shot along the fence and near the sand-
blasting plant that the Bobcat couldn't reach. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye I saw
Carole at her opened window again, waving her fat little arms wildly in the air, her face red
with petulant fury. I glanced about and saw the grumpy Mexican wearing something like a
half-sneer, half-grin on his twisted face, and I went over to Gavin who was very absorbed
in the challenges of maneuvering the Bobcat. He looked up in surprise and turned his head
in the direction of where I pointed.
One of Gavin's less attractive points is his short fuse, magnified by a slight inferiority com-
plex. I know this because I suffer from it too. Normally it can be quite healthy and pro-
motes an extra degree in trying harder at something. Today, however, I felt that this wasn't
going to assist him in negotiations with Carole into allowing us to finish this job. He had
been enjoying driving this little machine up to this point. He climbed down angrily and
stalked off up the steps to her office of command. She was waiting for him at the top of the
steps, hands on her ample hips, her glittering, round glasses accentuating her little eyes. “I
thought I told you to stop making all that dust and noise?” she said icily.
