I’d been at sea or living aboard for 12 years and I know I couldn’t do it. At the very best I could fetch and carry half a mug and not spill it.�...Naked or sweet?”“Brand?”“You never heard of it,” he said. “Black or cream and sugar?” he asked again.“Ah,” I said, “You only get one shot...” I thought a second, “Or maybe not. Black.”Black was the one in his right hand. He passed it over. I took a sip.“Ooo ... french press...”“What?”“Best coffee in the world. Grounds barely covered with 170 degree. I got really concerned, because I couldn't get out. The van drove in the other direction from town, and I could not tell the direction, due to the enclosure of the van, and the weather. It had gotten dark, and the snow was really coming down. We must have driven for an hour, when we turned off the highway, making it's way down a unpaved road for about 15 minutes. I had no idea where I was. The van stopped outside an old house, with a early 90's sedan outside. It was very cold inside the. .. so why did we fly up so early ... we could have flown up tomorrow morning, made the meeting and flown home the following day. Things didn't come together in her mind and perhaps it was the wine but she decided it didn't really make any difference ... she had enjoyed flying First Class, the elegance of the Marriott and now a $700 dinner ... it just didn't seem to get better than that! She started to push back her chair and the back caught on the rug, tilted a little and Michael was on his. I can't, back's sprained. You do what they ask, if y'will. Oh, and y'can eat in the kitchen with the other help."So I moved furniture, cleaned rugs, hauled trunks from attic to basement and back, made repairs, cut firewood, and found several dozen other long-delayed jobs that every home accumulates. The cook and cleaning girl thought it was very funny to see me hurry from one task to another, sweating and striving."What's your reward, then?" asked the cook, wiping her hands on her apron."Get it.