Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Paula and she turned white and facing me, stammered, “He will arrest our boat if we do not
pay up the amount that was on the form.”
I drew out my wallet and tossed the money on the counter, glaring at the rude man, saying,
“Caribbean hospitality, huh? My arse!”
Paula took me by the sleeve and yelled, “Let's just get the hell out of here before they do
arrest your boat; they are obviously a law unto themselves!”
On our way out we heard him yelling something about merde South Africans, and I realized
it was the politics that made South African sailors so unpopular. At that point in history,
the white government was still firmly in control of South Africa which was causing a lot of
friction with the rest of the liberal world.
On the way back, we stopped off at a little store and bought a soda each and half a chocolate
cake. Rowing out to the boat, we were silent and slightly depressed by the turn of events.
“Damn frogs!” I erupted at last.
“Well, at least they didn't arrest your boat; think of that for Christ sakes!”
As I was shipping the oars, I happened to look up and saw the cutest little face of a small
kitten looking saucily down at me from the deck.
“Hey! Look at this! Where did you come from?”
“Oh my goodness, what a pretty pussy cat! Who put you there hmm?” sang out Paula. We
looked around but saw nobody.
“I guess we have inherited our first boat cat,” I said, “wonder what we can feed it ?”
“We do have some little cans of tuna and some bread, perhaps he would like that.”
“I doubt it; kittens don't eat canned fish!” I retorted sarcastically.
“Let me be the judge of that!” yelled Paula, finally losing her temper with me. It had been a
trying few days, and the incident with the French official had brought things to a head. The
weather was hot and humid, and we were irritable in each other's company all of a sudden.
With that, Paula flounced off to her cabin in the forepeak, leaving me gulping after her in
confusion.
“Must be that time of the month,” I deduced.
I opened a can of tuna and, sure enough, the little kitten raced over to it, purring while it
ravenously gobbled up half the contents. I put out a dish of water as well, which the kitten
lapped at after its meal.
