"You need to talk to me?"Cathy took in a deep breath of air and forced it out in a deep sigh. "James, may we just have our dinner, first. I'd like to ...alm down a little before I tell you why I was so upset. I'm a little nervous, I'm ... I just ... I need a little more time to collect my thoughts. Okay, Honey?" Sure, Cathy. Do you need some help with dinner?" Oh, ah ... well ... slice the roast for us and fix your plate. I'll get the salad dressing." Would you like a glass of wine with dinner?". It was near-unanimous among the voting members of our group that, at least for the near term, staying aboard a ship was the best way to assure our collective safety and comfort.We found an extremely handsome ship with accommodations adequate for, perhaps, thirty people. If our group got much larger than that, Ingmar said, he would consider Roald and himself to be unable competently to handle the piloting of a larger vessel. We'd have to either split up the group into two ships, or find a new. His rigid member began todeflate and his face turned crimson.“God! Mrs. Branleur! Oh, shit!”“Quiet!” I commanded, “Lie still. Put your hands behindyour back and lie on them.”“What… what are you going to do?”I put on my most severe sounding voice, “I said,‘Quiet.’ Put your hands behind your back – better yet,under your butt. Do what I say and there won’t be anytrouble.”He did as I told him, lifting his butt. I know it's hard... Things just haven't worked out they way I wanted between us, ya know?"Derrick nodded. He didn't know what to say. He knew the reason he gave his dad for his sadness was untrue and actually silly. He was glad they were splitting up. He was too good for her, anyway. He didn't want his dad to think he was troubled over this situation at all, but it was the quickest excuse he could think of at that moment.His dad patted him on the thigh, closest to his crotch. This sent a wave.