My Journal

By Harriman Nelson

17

It had been an uneventful flight to Washington, probably because Lt. Numbers hadn’t complained about our lack of speed this time. And it was a foregone conclusion that he was satisfied about my test findings.

I was early evening when we splashed down and tied up at a different and ramshackle marina than we’d taken off from, as per the SecNav’s orders. ‘Just a precaution,’ he’d radioed.

I was surprised that Lee hadn’t arranged a car for us. Until, that was, we saw Joe, in casual jeans and T-shirt, emerge from a rather shabby antiquated yellow Volkswagen. He was followed by someone dressed equally casually, in a Hawaiian shirt. But I could tell. He was a ‘man in black’.

Joe’s spook buddy back at the White House had probably ordered the ‘sham’ for us in order to avoid the press. And certainly there weren’t any about. Still, there were some interested bystanders that had seen our descent, and were pointing at the Flying Sub, rocking gently by the dock.

 “Don’t worry about security, sirs,” Joe said as he nodded toward Numbers and me on the dock. “Plenty of undercover cops and Secret Service agents  around.  I’ll get your gear. Ski, Pat, good to see you. Have a good flight back. And see you again soon when Seaview gets in…oh, and tell Morton flank, okay?”

“Already is, sir,” Ski said.

“Yeah well, maybe he has a trick or two up his sleeve to make her go a bit faster.”

“There’s no higher speed than flank, sir,” Ski answered, a little confused.

“By the book, yes. But there’s always a little extra any boat can be pushed. Look, the president wants, needs, Seaview here asap. Okay?”

“Don’t you think he’s probably already contacted Chip about this?” I asked. “Joe, what is it?”

“Not a world emergency or anything, sir. It’s just…he’d be a heck of lot happier with her here, the faster, the better…his family and friends…”

“Pre wedding jitters?”

“Maybe. There’s been a  lot of negative press. He could use a little sanctuary aboard. Would have to be a formal ‘inspection’ to satisfy the Navy as the hoat’s  on Active Reserve status right now, but he sure would like to sit in the front porch and just soak her in a little. She gives him strength, you know.”

I certainly did.

“He does realize,” I said, “that not everyone aboard is happy about the wedding?”

“He knows. But hey, they’re all still ‘family’ to him. And Seaview’s ‘home’. He’s probably already spoken to Morton about the speed, still….”

“We’ll be sure to mention that any extra push he can give her will be appreciated, sir,” Ski said, taking leave of us, and soon FS1 was up and away.

“This vehicle,” Numbers began as Joe and the agent put our bags into the bug’s trunk, “is con-fig-ured differently from the others. And it is…small.”

“Yeah, well,” Joe said, “Lee thought a bug wouldn’t be as easily suspected of picking you up.”

“Bug? Is it alive?”

“No,” Joe laughed. “Just a nickname for this model.”

“Are we still in dan-ger from some of your countrymen?”

“From a few isolated protestors, possibly. Though, they pretty much behaved themselves while they followed Miss Melody and Mrs. C. around this afternoon. In fact, some of them have completely turned around and  gotten kind of sweet on the bride elect.”

“Well,” I said, as Numbers and I squeezed into the back seat, “I’m certainly glad to hear it.”

“I’m supposed to drop you off at the Executive Bldg. Admiral. The SEA committee’s waiting for your report. There’ll be a car waiting to take you to the big house when you’re done.”

“You make it sound like a prison,” I laughed.

“Didn’t mean it as a pun, sir. Though, I suppose Lee kind of feels it’s like a prison, sometimes.” Joe checked to see that we were all strapped in, and  then drove away from the marina while the agent in the seat next to him radioed in that ‘Big Bird’ was enroute. ‘Bluebird’ and ‘Cardinal’ (as befitted the unmarked cars following us) confirmed they were ‘in flock’. I didn’t bother to explain to Numbers.

 “Anyway,” Joe continued, “he wants you to stay over tonight. Oh, and we got a call from Angie. Mrs. Nelson’s airline reservations got screwed up. Ames is working on them now. She might not get here till tomorrow. Your hotel suite’s all set, though, and you could go there tonight if you want, but Lee really would rather you stay, have dinner, and talk with him awhile.”

“I’d enjoy that.”

The drive to Executive Bldg. didn’t take long. Grabbing only my briefcase, I waved goodbye and after about a half hour of sharing my lab data, pictures, etc., the committee deemed the test confirmed their calculations and recommended the proposal to be faxed to congress.

I was surprised when Jiggs, in casual attire, met me just outside the committee room as the meeting adjourned.

“Tell me, Jiggs, how would you like to join me for dinner at the White House tonight? I’m sure Lee wouldn’t mind.”

“I’m not sure, Harry…he’s not too fond of me personally.”

“Only when you behave like Captain Bligh aboard Seaview.”

“Well then, all right. I’d better go change into something more appropriate.”

“He won’t even notice…besides, he wanders around the place in jeans and Tee shirt at times.”

“Now that’s the boy we’ve come to know and love, though perhaps ‘love’ is a bit exaggerated on my part.”

The car, as promised, was waiting, and Jiggs raised an eyebrow.

“It’s a security thing,” I explained as the man in black flashed a badge as he opened the door to ‘Cardinal’. Grand Marquis that had seen better days or at least looked as though it had. 

It was a very smooth drive for an old car. I had to assume that it had been spruced up for special assignments. Indeed, inside it had all sorts of electronic gadgets that the two agents used up front, reporting our route, and ETA. I hadn’t seen any such interior devices in ‘Big Bird’, but then it had been rather cramped in the back seat and I might not have seen similar devises in the front.

Nobody near the White House gate seemed to be interested in our vehicle until we were being checked through at the gate. Then people began to look at us, and  snap pictures to be shared with family, friends, and social media. Not to mention with CNN.

We were subjected to the standard cursory ‘inspection’ at the back entrance, but were through in a mere four seconds. I know because I counted them.

“Good evening, Admiral Nelson, Admiral Starke,” Edwards said, “I’m to escort you to your suite to freshen up, Admiral Nelson. Admiral Starke, you know the way to the family dining room, or you may prefer to wait for the president in the living room….”

“He invited me over a few times when you were aboard Seaview,” Jiggs explained to me. “Not that he was as sociable with me as with you. But he was polite…he’s tired, Harry. I doubt he’s had a decent night’s sleep since he’s been here.”

“I hope you didn’t give him too hard a time about it,” I said.

“Of course I did. It was my duty to act in ‘loco parentis’ for you.”

“And what happened?”

“He ignored me.”

“Don’t feel too badly about it. He ignores me too.”

 “Actually, Edwards,” I told the steward after a hearty laugh,  "I'd like to see Lee first.”

“The president is unavailable right now.”

“Affairs of state, no doubt,” Jiggs said.

“No sir, more of a personal nature. Giving a certain young lady a little ‘token’ of his affection that he went out and bought today.”

“Ah, he got the ring, then?” I asked. “I bet the Secret Service was none too happy about him going out what with all of the negative feelings toward him right now.”

“No, sir, they weren’t. But he insisted that any bride of his deserved his ‘hands on attention’. Oh, he didn’t mean it the way that sounded.”

“I’m sure he didn’t,” I laughed some more.

“And it’s just the rabble rousers that are getting most of the negative press coverage. I think a fair percentage of the general attitude toward the president has become more understanding and even affectionate toward the young lady in some cases.”

“Well,” I said as I punched the elevator button to the second floor, “I’ll see you shortly, Jiggs.”

“Take your time.”

My stomach rumbled.

“Well,” he laughed, “not too much time.”

My luggage had already been brought up and was being unpacked, and deposited in the dresser and closet by a couple of stewards who were working fast, soon finished and left.

I found my shaving kit was on the bathroom counter, and fresh towels laid out. Apparently Lee figured I’d want to shower and change. He could read my mind sometimes.

Not always a good thing when I still had reservations about the upcoming nuptials.

Instead of a fresh uniform, especially as dinner was more of a family affair, I chose a pair of casual slacks and a red flannel shirt. Red’s not my best color due to my skin tone, but what the heck. Lee still had the AC on and I found it a little chilly. Perhaps the temperature was more to accommodate Melody and Numbers than we mere humans.

As I headed to the family room, I could hear that the TV was on. Mrs. C. and Jiggs were watching the news. (What else was there nowadays?)

“….We found the bride elect and her soon to be mother-in-law out shopping,” one of the reporters said as the images scrolled on the screen behind. “Once spotted, crowds formed, some with good wishes, others in protest.”

“….Go back to your own planet, you filthy dog!” Ronald was shouting while his supporters added their own jeers toward Melody, and her supporters hissing back at them.

 “The idea of marriage between you and a human is bestial, disgusting!” Jessica spat. Literally.

Agents and police tried to shield Melody and Mrs. C. from the ruckas, but instead Melody took a few steps toward Ronald.

“You are Lee’s brother.”

“Only on paper.”

“It is true I am not human,” Melody said. “But I fail to un-der-stand why you are so against Lee’s love for me, and mine for him. But, Lee told me, that even if you in-sult us, our love, even me, that he would still defend to the death, he said, if need be, your right to speak so. And that I must too, forgive you your pre-pre-ju-dice and ignorance.”

“That’s telling them, sister!” one of the crowd yelled to applause.

“Forgiveness?” Ronald asked, “we don’t need your forgiveness for something that’s so base! Do you people, us humans, really want this…this…’thing’ as the First Lady?”

“I think she’ll make a damn fine First Lady,” one of Ronald’s group said, smashing his sign to the ground, "I don’t know why I even listened to you two idiots. She’s lovely! Three cheers for our next First Lady!”

Only Ronald, Jessica and few of their hangers on remained steadfast amid the cheering crowd, most of whom wanted to shake Melody’s hand. Police and agents didn’t want that but Melody insisted they be allowed. Some even shook Mrs. C.’s hand.

“You’ll be sorry!” Ronald said as he and Jessica were pushed further away by the crowd.  “All of you, when she and her kind turn Lee and all of you into mindless slaves!”

Boos and hisses.

“Miss Melody,” a lady asked, “did you buy the wedding dress?”

“Yes,” she said blushing.

Damn, she was purple again.

“But I am having a diff-i-cult time finding shoes to match.”

“Oh for God’s sake,” Ronald hissed. “Is that all you people are interested in? The wedding gown?”

“It’s a love thing, Ronald,” Mrs. C. said. “No wonder you don’t understand.”

Laughter and applause.

“….And so what could have become a violent altercation,” the reporter said, “was diffused by the charming bride to be and her soon to be mother-in-law…it is still unknown when the wedding will place as the bride and groom are still awaiting the arrival of the bride’s mother., on her way from outer space. And now, in other news….”

“What they failed to say,” Mrs. Crane said, clicking the mute button  from her chair, “was that earlier several stores hadn’t even allowed Melody to try on anything, saying their customers would object to letting their skin touch any fabric an alien had. But the girl insisted we keep trying. She was so determined to have an ‘Earthling’ dress to please Lee, even though I'd told her he wouldn’t care if they were both in rags. But finally we found a nice little store where they were most kind and felt it a privilege to serve us. Then when we got outside there was the problem with Ronald…she handled it rather well.”

“Indeed,” I said, making my presence known. “In fact, she may have become America’s Sweetheart.”

“Just what I think!” Lee said from the doorway, Melody on his arm.rm. “Go ahead and show them, dear,” he told her.

She showed off her left hand. On the ring finger was a gold filigree and fire opal ring.

“Oh, it’s lovely,” Mrs. C. said.

“Even if an ugly dog is wearing it?” Melody said, hesitant. “That’s what they called me, out there, today.”

“Only some of them,” I said, “and they’re blind.”

“You are very kind,” she answered, “…father. Is it allowed to call you that? Before the bonding?”

“Of course, my dear.”

 “I don’t know about any of you,” Lee said. “But I’m famished.”

“Just don’t have any of the Mur,” Melody said.

“Yes, dear.”

I had a hard time not laughing. That was what most husbands around the world quickly learn to say to their wives.  She wasn’t a wife yet, but I imagined she’d already started ‘training’ him.

I had to wonder if her father was a ‘yes’ man to her mother as well.

Only time would tell.