Mango Bob (21 page)

“Captain Bob asked if I wanted to continue on as a deck hand, and I took him up on the offer.

“I moved to Englewood. And Captain Bob taught me how to operate his boat. He helped me to get my six pack so I could handle the boat when he wasn't available.”

I interrupted, “What's a six pack?”

“It's a commercial boat captain's license. Allows you to take up to six paying passengers out. Gotta have it if you want to be a fishing guide or tour boat operator.

“Anyway, Captain Bob helped me get my six pack, and let me captain his boat.

“His health was failing and he was happy to let me handle the boat on the days he couldn't make it.

“Nine months after I started working with Bob, he dropped dead at home. Heart attack.

“Bob's wife listed the boat for sale with a broker, and moved back up north.

“That left me with no job and no boat. This was three years ago.

“Even though I had my license, there weren't many boat captain jobs available. Most boat owners captained their own boat. They didn't want to pay someone else to do it. Especially a girl captain.

“I found a part time job at the kayak store in Nokomis. And that led to me doing some kayak training and tours.

“I eventually bought some used kayaks and started doing kayak training and adventure tours on my own.

“I created a web page, uploaded a few YouTube videos, and put flyers at all the kayak stores and tourist arcades around here to attract customers.

“Right now, I do about five tours a week.”

Sarah paused.

“Interesting. You've got your boat captains license, your own business, and your own fleet of boats.

“And yet, you're still single?”

Sarah made a face, “Molly tell you to say that? She's always trying to fix me up with someone.

“After the last guy, I've sworn off men. I'm going to work on building my business and forget about relationships.”

“Yeah, I can relate to that. I'm just getting out of relationship myself.

“So tell me the story of Mango Bob. How'd he get that name?”

54

We were still sitting on the sand at Manasota beach. Sarah was telling me about Mango Bob.

“When I first came to Englewood and was looking for a place to rent, I couldn't afford much. Most places were priced way too high for my budget.

“A friend suggested I talk to Audrey Snyder, who was looking for a caretaker for the old boatyard. She wanted someone to watch over the place in case something needed fixing. Broken windows, pipes, leaks.

“The building had been empty for years, and she'd had many offers to buy it, especially during the real estate boom.

“But she didn't want to sell.

“She told me her husband, Bob, bought the building when they first married and he ran the boat yard.

“They called it “Bob's Boat Storage.

“But there was another Bob who had a boatyard in Englewood, and the locals started calling this one Mango Bob's - because it was on Mango Street and Bob was the manager.

“Anyway, Mrs Snyder took a liking to me, and agreed to rent the place to me for almost nothing, if I'd be the caretaker.

“The first night after I moved in, I heard a yowling out in the boat yard and when I went to check, I found this scrawny little kitten with no tail.

“He ran right up to the door of my apartment and followed me in like he knew the place.

“I fed him some tuna, gave him a bowl of water and he settled right in.”

“He was so tame I figured he belonged to someone in the neighborhood, so I posted signs. After three weeks, no one claimed him.

“Mrs Snyder came by one day and I showed her the kitty. She had a 'no pets' rule, and I wanted her to know I was trying to find him a home.

“She told me, 'no way are you going to give this cat away. He's found you for a reason. He's yours. And it won't hurt to have a cat around the boat yard. He'll keep the lizards and mice at bay.'

“So with Mrs Snyder's blessings, I kept the cat.

“With his bob tail, I naturally called him Bob. And then Mango Bob, because I found him on Mango Street, in Mango Bob's old boatyard.

“He's been with me ever since. Except this past summer when I let that low-life Eddie convince me that Mango Bob needed to stay with Molly.

“Next time I'll know better. I'll keep Bob, dump the boyfriend.”

Sarah paused, then said, “Let's go home. I want to see my Mango Bob.”

55

We were on the way back to the boatyard. Sarah was driving.

She said, “I'm giving a kayak training session in the morning. You want to come?”

“Sure, sounds like fun. What time and what do I need to bring?”

“It's scheduled for nine thirty at Indian Mound Park. Be ready to leave at eight thirty.

“You'll want a hat, sun glasses, sun screen, short pants and tennis shoes. And a towel because you're going to get wet.”

“I've got everything but the shorts. Jeans OK?”

“That'll work. But you'll need to get some Florida clothes if you plan to stay long.”

We pulled into the boat yard driveway. Sarah handed me a keyring, “Here's your key. Unlock the gate so I can get the truck in.”

After I unlocked and opened the gate, Sarah pulled the truck in and parked it. She walked over to me and said, “I hope you don't mind, but I'm not really set up to take Bob into my apartment tonight. No litter box, no kitty food.

“Maybe tomorrow after we do the kayak training we can get the things I need and move him then?

“But I do want to see him tonight. Would that be okay? Can I go see him?”

I smiled, “Bob would love to see you.” I walked over to the motorhome and unlocked it.

Before opening the door I turned to Sarah, “Bob's been good about not trying to escape, but he might be waiting at the door, so let's be careful.”

I opened the door just far enough to make sure Bob wasn't waiting to escape. He wasn't.

“All clear, we can go in.”

Sarah went in first, “Bob? Are you in here? Bob?”

I followed Sarah, turning on the lights. Bob was nowhere to be seen.

I went to the back bedroom and found Bob stretched out on the bed. I gave him a rub and said, “Bob, there's someone here to see you.”

Bob said, “Murrph”. He blinked his eyes, stood up and stretched.

Then he jumped down from the bed, checked his food and water, and then casually walked out toward the front of the coach.

When Sarah saw him, her eyes lit up. “Bob. Is that you? Did you miss me?”

Bob said, “Murrph.”

Sarah sat on the floor and began petting Bob, telling him how much she missed him.

After five minutes of rubbing, Bob rolled over, letting Sarah rub his belly.

Sarah looked up at me, “Did you teach him this? He never used to let anyone rub his belly.”

“Yes, that's one of the many tricks I've taught him. I've also taught him to cry before he poops. You'll love that one.

“And I've taught him to bark at squirrels. Oh yeah, I've taught him to sleep on top of me at night.”

Sarah was smiling, “You let him sleep with you? Most guys don't like a cat in bed with them.”

I laughed, “Bob really didn't ask me for permission. I just woke up and he was there.”

Sarah smiled, “You really like Bob don't you?”

“Yes, I guess I do.”

56

Sarah was sitting on the floor petting Bob who was purring and chirping.

She looked up, “Molly said you worked at the Conway plant for three years. What did you do before that?”

I thought for a minute, “Before Conway, I worked as a computer network security specialist for FMC. And before that I was in the military for six years.”

“What does a network security specialist do?”

“In my case, it meant the company paid me to try to hack into their own computer networks, then patch any security holes I found. Part of my job was to track down others who tried to get into the network illegally.”

“Sounds interesting. So you were a paid hacker?”

“Something like that. But it was all, well mostly, legal.”

“What'd you do in the military?”

“I was a recon patrol leader. Did two tours in Afghanistan, one in Iraq.”

“Did you get shot at?”

“Yes, just about every day. But the heat was the real killer. Bad on our weapons, our communications gear, our people.

“I was glad to get out alive. Three tours was plenty for me.”

“So I'm guessing you know how to swim?”

“Yes, I know how to swim. Learned when I was a kid. Spent my summers on the lake. Even worked as a lifeguard at summer camp for two years.

“So yes, I know how to swim.”

“That's good. Because when we do the kayak training tomorrow, it's nice to know that at least one person other than me can swim.

“By any chance do you know CPR?”

I laughed. “Why do you ask, you need me to perform CPR on you?”

“I'm serious, do you know CPR?”

“Yes, I know CPR. And battlefield first aid, too.”

Sarah, serious again, “I've never had to do CPR in an emergency situation. But I had to take a CPR course as part of my captain's training.”

I nodded, “So, tell me about working as a boat captain. Is running a boat profitable? And what kind of boat would you run in this area?”

Sarah looked up, “When I was boat captain, we'd charged $250 per person per trip.

“We'd usually take out six people, and bring in $1,500 a day. We could only work when the weather was right and when we had at least three customers.

“In a good week, we'd bring in close to $5,000.

But out of that we'd have to pay for fuel, which could run $1,200 for the week. And we'd have to pay the deckhands, which would be another $800. And dock fees, and insurance.”

“So after all expenses, the captain would end up with maybe a thousand profit for the week.”

“But that money disappeared quickly if you had mechanical problems or needed repairs. And boats always have problems and need repairs.”

“Still, it's something I really liked doing. And would still be doing if I had a boat.”

Sarah paused, obviously thinking about her life on a boat.

“So, if you could afford a boat, what kind would you get, and what would you do with it?”

Sarah smiled, “I've thought about that a lot.

“If I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd get a 36 foot catamaran and offer nature and kayak tours out on the barrier islands.

“Maybe even take longer tours down into the keys, or overnights into the Thousand Islands.”

“The catamaran's shallow draft would let me go places other boats couldn't get to, and it'd have enough cabin space inside for six people double bunking.

“If it were a motor-sailer, I could keep the fuel costs low, and offer the kind of eco-friendly adventure tours people want these days.

“But unless I win the lottery, it won't happen.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

“Because even a very used 36-foot catamaran will cost $75,000. And at the rate I'm going, I'll never be able to afford that.”

“Yeah, that's a lot of money. But a nice dream.”

Sarah stood, “Time for me to go. I had a long day today, and have to get up early in the morning. If you're going with me, you need to be ready to help me load the boats around eight thirty.”

Bob swatted at Sarah's ankle playfully and she bent over to talk to him, “Bob, you spend the night here tonight, and tomorrow we'll move you back home.”

Bob looked up and said, “Murrph?”

She looked at me, “You'll be okay with Bob one more night?”

“Yeah, he's no problem. I think he likes it here.”

“Well, don't get too attached, because tomorrow he's moving in with me. See you in the morning.”

Sarah went out the door.

Bob said, “Murrph.”

I agreed with him.

57

Thirty minutes after Sarah left, my phone chimed.

It was Molly.

“So how was your date with Sarah?”

“Molly, it wasn't a date. Just dinner and talk.”

“Walker, come on. Give me something to work with here! What do you think about Sarah?”

“Molly, Sarah seems like a fine person. Has an interesting life. No bad habits I've discovered so far.”

“So are you going to ask her out again?”

“Molly, I'm living in her back yard. So I guess we'll be seeing a lot of each other. Maybe even eating a meal or two together.”

“Yes! I knew you two would hit it off.”

“Molly, I've got to go. It's been a long day. I'll talk to you later.”