The Commanding Officer of the USS Tet Offensive, Captain Michael North, was actually a pretty easy-going guy. He claimed to be related to Oliver North; Alex had no idea who that was. He often rambled on to her about how much he hated the Navy, why he should've joined the Air Force or Marines. How he envied his younger brother who was in the financial industry. And lastly how his wife left him for a younger man. He never made too many outrageous requests or demands. He seemed the total opposite of the rather uptight crew. For reasons that escaped her Captain North liked her and never once yelled at her. Maybe it was all the stress of running a ship that was falling apart.
One day while Alex was cleaning his stateroom he asked her a simple question: "Why did you join the Navy?"
"I have no idea sir," she replied.
"You and me both."
"Did you need me to vacuum?"
"No," he started while looking over some paperwork, "just finish what you're doing and you can vacuum tomorrow."
"Yes sir," she replied.
She finished dusting and left his stateroom. She gathered her cleaning supplies and walked back to the S-5 office. The rest of the Division was sitting down in the office hanging out watching TV. The LPO was sitting at a desk transfixed by "Jerry Springer".
"So what now," Alex asked while putting her supplies away.
"Just kick it here until 1615," he replied.
"It's 1300," she replied.
"Yeah," he laughed, "the Captain doesn't really eat lunch and he usually leaves before dinner. He really doesn't give a fuck."
"Sounds like it," she replied.
"Yeah," he smiled, "plus he doesn't like lending us out to other divisions."
"That's good," she said while sitting down in one of the folding chairs.
Alex liked being there. She was happy to be away from the mess decks and Deck. She enjoyed the nice short-sleeved shirts that read: Captain's Galley. For some strange reason she wore her utility shirt. She slunk back in the chair and watched "Springer". Some of the people on the show reminded her of her friends and family back at home in Iowa. She hated living in a trailer park, but she preferred it to the berthing. By the time "Springer" was over the other T.A.D., Airman Butler, came back in.
"I just wrapped up with that stateroom," he said, "anything else?"
"Just hang her," the LPO replied.
Butler looked around the room and found a folding chair and placed it next to Alex.
"Lundz right," he asked sitting next to her.
"Yeah," she replied.
"Butler," he replied.
The two sat there for nearly an hour watching TV. No one said anything, everybody in the room sat there. The phone ringing suddenly broke the awkwardness.
"S-5, MS1 Sheen speaking how may I help you sir or ma'am?"
Alex and Butler looked at their LPO as he sat on the phone. He barely said anything except for "yes sir" or "no sir". He scribbled a few things down while talking. He was on the phone for nearly five minutes before he hung up. He looked up at them and smiled.
"Do either of you have a car," he asked.
"I do," Butler replied.
"Okay," the LPO started, "I need you to pick up the Captain's dry cleaning and he wants Chili's for lunch. I'll call it in; it's the one on base. I'll pay for it over the phone, Captain's account. Butler get your utility shirt and take Lundz with you. The dry cleaner is off base, in Coronado, on Orange Avenue, it's called "Silk Hanger". If you need gas money, let me know when you get back."
"Let's go," Butler said as they stood up and grabbed the dry cleaning ticket from the LPO.
Alex followed Butler to his berthing as he changed into a utility shirt. They left the ship quickly but it took forever to get to his car, a 2007 Toyota, in much better shape then Watson's. They got in and drove to Coronado.
"This doesn't make much sense," Butler laughed.
"It gets us off the ship," Alex smiled.
"I know."
"Would you rather be doing something else?"
"No," he smiled as he made his way to the exit for the bridge.
"What Division are you in," she asked.
"AIMD."
"Oh."
"You like it?"