This story is dedicated to my grandma who just passed away on Thursday Jan
14, '99 (same day I started writing this). I didn't have a whole lot of
contact with her because of outside influences, however she was one person
whom I really respected. She wanted her family to be happy. So although
she herself wouldn't have related to the realm of fanfic, she would have
approved, knowing how much I enjoy writing. So this is dedicated in
loving memory of Annie McCormick.
Usual disclaimers - don't own 'em. If you think I do, can I sell you this
lovely bridge? Seriously, owned by Parriott & other PTB such as
Columbia/Tristar, etc. No infringement is intended and since no money is
being made on it, please do not sue! I'm merely borrowing the FK
characters for a little bit of fun, and will return them to their rightful
owners not even much worse for wear!
No, I'm not changing my alliances. But this particular story demanded to
be written, even if it most definitely is NOT my normal characters to play
with. My normal characters to play with do make appearances however. :)
The song used in this story (and the chorus from another song) are both
from the same artist & even same album. INFO is within the story. Words
quoted are transcribed by hand, so if there are any errors in them, they
are my own fault.
Special thanks to Cheryl Barnes, Shana Nolan, and Mary Lou Manzie for
their beta-reading, and to Mary Jenkins for her suggestions and help with
the "Screed-speak". Without her it would have sounded like Aunt Jemima
lived in Acadia then moved to England... So her help is much appreciated!
Last, Mel may archive this, as may any DP or T+Vpacker if they want it.
Anyone else, please email me.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Screed and Urs were sitting at a table with another young vampire and a
mortal girl whom the bouncers had let in despite her appearance of being
perhaps 16. As they were loading up the karaoke machine for the next
singer, the girl made a comment about school then corrected herself to
college. Urs wondered idly if the girl had some fake ID, if that was why
the bouncers hadn't stopped her from entering. Then the next song and
singer were announced, and the young girl left their table to go take her
place on stage with the microphone in hand.
"Is she your date?" Urs asked of the fledgeling vampire who had joined
them, in a whisper only a vampire could hear over the speakers.
"Her? Nah. She's gotta be younger in spite of her claims to the
contrary. From what Janette said in the past, I think there was a time it
was looked on favorably to hunt the younger ones, but not since Victorian
times, as I understand it. Besides," he dropped his whisper quieter as
the song the girl was singing had an instrumental break, "I think she's
just out on the make. She's asked me to go off with her a few times
already. Since I've turned her down I'll bet she goes off to join another
table now."
As the song ended they watched as the girl left the stage and did exactly
that, moving on to a table full of young mortal guys whom she must have
noticed while up on stage.
When Urs turned to Screed she saw Vachon enter through the back door from
the alley and waved him over. Before he joined them however, she asked
Screed, "Why don't you ever go up on stage for Karaoke? It seems to me it
would be just your sort of thing."
Vachon sat in the chair previously vacated by the girl, and listened to
the running conversation.
"Wot? Me?" Screed laughed in what sounded to Vachon like a self-
conscious manner. "Nah me. No Siree! Leas' ways nah wit out it bein'
jus' exactically tha roight typa song. An' none o' tha ones tha ol'
Gen'ral's gots 'ere s'right."
"Oh come on, Screed! I've heard you sing before. Usually it's when
you're out looking for rats. But you do sing." Urs looked at him
expectantly as she slid her chair a little nearer to Vachon's, although
Screed doubted that either one of them was aware of the action.
"Wot? Fer me squealers I will cuz I gotsta. If'n I acts like o' bloomin'
drunk thay don't get any notions inta thare li'l noggins. If'n I were ta
go ou' thare 'untin an' act like a 'unter, do ya really think I'd catch as
many as wot I's need? Thay -are- smart li'l beasties, y'knows. Mos'
'umans jus' can't be bottered ta finds out jus' 'ow in-telly-agent tha
buggers really are. But I's seen many a ratsie tha'd out think any
mortal."
"So what would be the right song?" the fledgeling asked.
"Fer me? I dunno. Buts I'll de-fin-netty knows it whens I hears it!"
Screed stood up. Hanging out at the Raven with Vachon and Urs was
something he enjoyed, but not on days there were as many vampires around
as there were tonight. Not all of them were as tolerant of the carouche
as Vachon and his friends. "I'll catch ya later, mateys." And with that
he vanished quickly the way Vachon had come in.
-=-=-
Tracy, who was enjoying a night off, was lying back on the corner of her
sofa with a reading lamp on and her cd player playing softly in the
background. It wasn't anything she would admit to if anyone asked what
music she liked. Or rather, it wasn't anything she'd even think about in
answer to that question. It was one of those relaxing nature sounds
enhanced with slightly haunting but very light music that you just enjoy
without having to think about lyrics or if the bass was set right to do
justice to your music.
There was a rap at her door, which startled Tracy out of her book, and as
she stood and went to answer the door, she realized that it was the second
time her door had been knocked on. "Coming," she called as loudly as she
thought she dared, given that it was about 3am.
Tracy opened the door slightly, and was rather surprised to see Screed
standing before her in the hallway. "Screed? What are you doing here?"
"I thawt ya's mights be up Baby Jane, as ya weren't a werkin' tonigh'. I
founds sumpthin', an' wot I's a wonderin' is if'n you'd maybe lets me in
long enough so's I could take a listen ta it on yer seedy mach'in thare,
seein' as I don't 'ave one o' me own?" Screed held up a damaged cd case
for her to see.
"Sure. Come on in." Tracy was still a little puzzled at him coming to
her place. "I don't mind at all, but I am surprised. Don't you know
anyone else with a cd player?"
"Yeah, but naht a one who'd let tha likes o' me in. Jav-i-arto an' sum o'
'is udder amigos 're tha only ones 'oo don'ts minds me bein' 'bouts.
Uther kit en kin would 'ave ol' Screed's guts fer garters if I ev'n axed!"
Tracy stopped her player and removed her cd, placing it carefully into
it's case and placing it back in it alphabetical location in her cd rack.
Then she took the badly cracked case from Screed. "Have a seat." She
gestured to the couch, then checked over the cd. It needed to be cleaned,
since a lot of street grime had gotten inside the case through the myriad
of cracks. But once she had cleaned it up, it looked to be in otherwise
new condition, surprisingly without a single scratch. "I've got some
replacement cases around in case I break any of mine. I'll get a new case
for it so it'll keep it in good condition."
As the cd started up, she sat both cases on the coffee table at her end of
the sofa, and went into the kitchen. "I don't suppose you want coffee?"
She heard a polite laugh. "Nah, thankys 'tho."
"I don't have anything around that Vachon can handle, so that probably
means nothing for you too?" Tracy came back in and sat at the opposite
end of the sofa from Screed, taking a mouthful of coffee before setting
her mug on the coffee table.
"Don' worry 'bouts me. I's had me fill o' squealers already tonight."
"Don' worry nones 'bout me, I went en 'ad me fill o' squealers already
tonigh'."
As she listed to to the first song begin, she picked up the damaged case
and began taking it apart to transfer the paper components into the new
case. She looked at the logo. It was a simple green shield with a
shamrock, but instead of one stem, it had 4 arrows. The group was called
>>THE IRISH DESCENDANTS<<, and Tracy thought that their simple logo was a
very apt one. She knew nothing of the group herself, save that it was an
award-winning one from one of Canada's Atlantic provinces.
As she stopped thinking about what she knew of the band and began to
listen to the lyrics she realized that the song was about living on the
sea, and the verse ended with something about belonging in Newfoundland.
Then the chorus came on:
Oh the rollin' of the sea is beckonin' to me
Saying come my son lets show you things you never seen before
Come set your spirit free on the winds of history
Hoist your sails and chart your course and go out and explore
For the rollin' of the sea is beckonin' to me
Come home to Newfoundland and Labrador
Tracy looked over at her unexpected guest, and saw him listening with his
eyes closed, seemingly enraptured by the song. She finished placing all
the paper bit into the new case, and by the time it was fixed up, they
were starting the next song. Tracy looked over at Screed again, and saw
him still totally engrossed in the song, bobbing his head along with it.
She looked down at the album in her hand, and noticed that the album title
was "Look to the Sea". ~I suppose by the sounds of things that it's
rather apt,~ she thought to herself. Then she picked up her coffee mug
and settled back to enjoy the music too.
During one particularly amusing song, her guest suddenly made a quiet
comment which Tracy couldn't entirely catch, but was something about
memories. Tracy picked up the case again, and looked for the title of
it. "Peter Street." She'd have to remember to ask him about it after.
Although this was a far cry form the sort of music that she would have
ever expected to like, Tracy found herself really enjoying it. After the
cd had ended she looked toward Screed, who was just opening his eyes.
"'Es thare sum way wot ya could put tha needle unta jus' one song like?"
"Sure. Let me guess, Peter Street, right?" Tracy looked over at Screed,
smiling.
"'Ow'd ya know?"
"Cause you mumbled something about memories when it was on." Tracy got up
and refilled her mug before returning. "I wanted to ask you about that."
Screed's face took on a sudden, defensive expression. "Wot 'zactly er ya
wantin' ta know?"
"Well, you got that same far away look all guys I know get when they're
remembering something or thinking about something. And I don't just
mean... you know. Even my partner Nick gets like that, and he isn't like
you guys."
Screed coughed to keep from letting anything slip that would end up with
him being on the wrong side of a stake. But still... "Ya got yerself a
kitty-catty 'round 'ere by chance, Baby Jane? I thinks I jus' breathed in
a bit o' meowin' fuzz.." ~That oughta keep 'er from 'spectin',~ Screed
thought to himself with a little smile.
"Actually, no, but I occasionally `baby-sit' my neighbour's cat when she
goes away. She lives and works in town, but she owns a motel up north
somewhere, which she goes to the 1st to 4th of each month. I look after
her cat then. So you could've gotten a hair. Sorry." ~Note to self:
vacuum thoroughly in the morning,~ Tracy thought to herself. "Anyway, I
thought you were remembering something and then mumbling like you did, I'm
sure you were. I'd love to hear about it, Screed."
"I wuz jus' rememberin' sumpthin' wot 'appened ta me afore I was wot I is
now. It's silly, really."
"Really, I'd like to hear it." Tracy was used to talking to Vachon. If
his friend was actually willing to talk to her and tell her something
about himself, she did want to hear it. It seemed that with Vachon he was
always hearing about her life and it's ups and downs.
**********[ end part 1 ]**********
"Well, I guess it's okay ta tells ya, seein' as ya already knows wot I am
an' all. 'Twas early in me 13th year, an' wit' 's many mo' 'ungry young
uns ta feed ahind me, well, me folks couldn' keep me no mo'. I wuz ol'
'nough ta do a man's work so 't wuz 'igh time I earned me own way. Anyhoos
since I wuz small fer me age an' looked a migh' younger 'an I wuz, no one
wanted to take me on. Finally got meself signed on wit a navy ship wot
'ad a navy docy-type."
Screed looked over at Tracy, and when she smiled encouragingly, he went
on. "I uz 'bout ta climb up to take me turn in the riggin' an' I 'appened
to 'ear one o' tha crew cursin'. Well, in me old 'ome tha only time 's I
ever 'eard such wuz me older brother wot said it, and 'e took such a
whippin' fram our dear ol' pop fer it! Well, 'earin' et then I wuz seen
a blushin' li' a girl. For-toon-tely 't wuz tha ol' doc tha seen me. 'E's
a staunch Christian man, much like me own father in 'at regards, an' he
got ta askin' tha Capt' fer me to be 'is Cabin-boy. I ended up livin' in
'is quarters with 'im, an' 'im teachin' me 'ow ta be 'un o' 'is ilk too.
Alls 'bout 'em li'l leaches an' blood-lettin' en gen'ral. An' if sume un'
got injur'd an' needed a bone set, well, I 'ad ta mix tha oppy-dope rum
drink fer thare pain, an' 'elp ta 'old 'im still so's ol' doc could set
it, like. I learned later 'at wuz prob-billy a good thin' 'e took me fer
his a-sissy-tant, since oftun on tha ships thare'd be a mate or two wot
'ad a taste fer tha younger lads, 'em as still 'ad smooth faces an all,
since ta 'em they's tha closest thin' ta a bird wot ya'd find on a ship.
Well, at 'at point 'at 'uz me all righty!"
Screed looked over to see if Tracy was freaking out at this disclosure,
and deciding that she wasn't, he continued. "Well, 'e kep' those sort
aways fram me, so like I says, it was a good thin' bein' wit 'im. But a
few months later we finally put inta port. Like th' others, I gots me pay
packet an' I's ta go spend a day in town an' gets meself anythin' I might
be a needin'. Now sum o' tha other lads 'ad started tellin' me 'ow I
ought ta go ta this 'un certain tavern where's I'd be able ta find
wotsever taste suited me fancy. Now, bein' an inny-cent choirboy type
with tha ladies like I wuz, I's a thinkin' wot they meant wuz if'n I 'uz
cravin' sweets I'd be able ta get 'em thare. I'd 'ad me a growin' spell
aboard ship, an' me pants were all too short, an' me arms an' legs looked
likes sticks wot was too big fer ta be me own. I's supposed ta get meself
new boots too."
Screed smiled mischievously, "Well, I's a wantin' ta get me some sweets,
so I thought ta get meself ta this tavern first, un spite o' the old doc's
warnin's ta get me necessaries first. So's off I goes in, an' a very
loverly bird comes an' asks me wot I wants. I told her I wanted sumpthin'
sweet, an' she thought I meant it differenty-like as wot I did. She asks
to see me money, an' I goes an' shows her me pay packet, like I wuz tha
greenest o' all tha lads tha' 'ad ev'r sailed tha seven seas. She tells
me ta come wit' 'er, so I does. Follows 'er like a puppy at 'er 'eels I
did. So anyways, we end up in a big feather bed, much ta me surprise, en
she introduces me tha ways o' a woman, all manner o' things wot I didn'
know 't was possible for two 'umans ta do! Like I said, I'd been inny-cent
afore 'at. Anyway, so after we's done, when she's a dressin' ta go back,
she takes me pay packet with 'er! I'd 'eard o' 'er sort o' ladies afore,
an' realized aft'r why she'd a taken me money. I also realized I'd be
'spected ta pay fer tha room since we hadn' paid first. An' me wit' no
money left ta me name! So I's thoughts ta go out o' tha window an' avoid
tha problem."
Screed locked at the floor, but continued, "I got caught -I guess I's not
th' first ta try an' escape like- an' when I couldn' pay, I got meself
stripped and flogged, an' sent on me way wit' nothin' but me own pride!
Well, I slipped meself into a buildin' and stole a sheet o' cloth wot
looked as if it'd jus' been waitin' fer to be mended. It 'ad a couple a
'oles in it. Once I 'ad me dignity covered wit' tha sheet wrapped 'bout
me, I marched off ta tha ship, havin' decided ta tell me mates 'at I'd
lost all, includin' me clothes, in a game. No 'un bothered ta tells me at
this was the normal way that innkeepers punished people who didn' pay in
'at city, an' usually it was if 'ey let their lady takes it all! So's all
tha mates aboard ship knew wot 'ad -really- 'appened afore I's even gots
aboard! An' o' course I got meself inta an 'ole lotta lectures from tha
ol' doc! Once we'd put out ta sea ag'n, then tha capt' tells me I can
finds some emer-jency clothin' an' supplies in a par-tickley-ar chest down
in un' o' tha 'olds below."
Screed looked at Tracy and wondered why he found himself telling her about
this little anecdote. Since he had become a vampire he'd not told anyone
since it was a rather embarrassing part of his past. But with Tracy he
just felt comfortable. At least as comfortable as it was possible for him
to feel given the circumstances. He finished off his narrative, "Well,
suffice'd ta say 'at ya never wants ta find yerself a wearing canvas
undies made fram bits o' ol' sail wot couldn' be mended no more!"
Tracy looked at him. "God, I can just imagine! But I'll bet next time
you went ashore you got your necessary goods bought first?"
"Ya gots 'at roight!" Screed suddenly looked very embarrased. "I can'
believe 'ow inny-ceny I wuz then!" He lloked at the floor and shook his
head.
Tracy smiled and put her hand on his arm. "Don't worry about embarrassing
yourself in front of me, Screed. I've been there." When Screed looked up
grinning, she ammended, "Okay, maybe not -there- exactly, but you know
what I mean! I remember embarrassing myself pretty badly a few times as a
rookie because people assumed I'd know more about it than I did with my
dad being a cop, but he didn't talk about the details at home. And I
didn't want to look stupid and ask, amd I just ended up looking even
stupider when I'd do something dumb that I'd have known better if I'd just
not been so proud and asked! It's sorta the same."
Screed looked across at Tracy and saw her determined expression and her
own slightly red face, and grinned. Then they both burst out laughing for
a few minutes.
Screed looked at the window. "Sun'll be up soon. I gotta go. But I'll
ask ya t' play 'at un song again fer me if ya dun't mind. An' please, if
ya ever find it on un of tho' seedy-special recerds fer that new
kare-ree-okie-dokie thingamajig, let me knows?"
Tracy played `Peter Street' once more, then put the cd into the new box
and showed Screed how to handle it properly so as not to damage it. Screed
got up to leave then, and just as Tracy was about to close the behind him,
she paused. "Screed?"
When he looked back at her, she smiled. There sure wasn't the "chemistry"
with Screed that she felt when around his friend Vachon, but there was a
definitely "comfortable" feeling. It rather reminded her of the way she
had felt about the boy who had lived next door. He'd been almost like a
brother - but not quite, and they had frequently double-dated together in
high school. Maybe she had been close to Screed in some past life of
hers, or going far enough back, in both of their past lives... Shaking
her head and smiling, she said, "I enjoyed your visit, Screed. You're
welcome to drop by again."
Screed smiled shyly. "Thank-ee. I think I'd like 'at." Then the
elevator opened and he stepped into it and was gone.
-=-=-
A few weeks later Tracy stopped Natalie as she was leaving to return to
the morgue. "Can we meet after work for coffee, Natalie? I'd like to
talk."
Natalie looked at her, thinking she recognized the look. "Guy trouble?"
Tracy scrunched her nose up and shook her head. "No... But I want to
talk to someone and make sure I'm not heading in that direction."
"Tim Horton's after work then?"
"Sounds great. Thanks, Nat."
***
A couple of hours later Tracy entered the donut shop and grabbed an
English Toffee Cappucino and a muffin. She was seated only a couple of
minutes before Natalie came in. She only ordered a coffee then took a
seat opposite the slightly younger woman.
"Sooo...?"
"Well, I have been spending a lot of time with my, uhh, boyfriend's friend
lately."
Natalie raised an eyebrow and took a sip of her coffee. "Really?" If she
knew anything about vampires, it was that they *usually* tended to hang
out with their own kind. That probably meant another vampire, and there
was all kinds of images popping into her mind of two vampires fighting
over the same mortal. She knew how often mortals killed each other in
those kinds of disputes! The potential with vampires could be a thousand
times worse. "Romantically?"
"No. It's just that my boyfriend and I don't talk. Well, I talk and he
listens. But you can almost never get him to talk about himself. He's
great, and that spark is definitely there! But a few weeks ago his friend
came over to see if he could listen to a cd he'd gotten, because he
doesn't have a player. We got talking. There is nothing more than
friends there, but as friends, we definitely connected. I'm just
concerned that my boyfriend is going to find out and be angry."
"So why not just tell him? If you act like you're hiding something, he's
more likely to think theres a *reason* to be hiding it."
"How? I mean, I don't want to walk up out of the blue and say 'Hi how's
it going? Oh, and by the way, did you know your best friend and I have
been hanging out together?' I don't exactly think that would go well."
Tracy swallowed the last of her coffee.
"Well, why not go out with your boyfriend, and do something that can be
easily done as a group. Then suggest that you guys meet other friends
there too. You or your boyfriend can invite this other friend; If you
want, Nick and I could come too. Anyway, that gives you a chance to bring
up in front of both that you are friends with both in whatever way
you're... least uncomfortable... with. If he's got any brains, he will
realize that you're not hiding it from him because there is nothing to
hide. And they will both realize that they can talk about it, too.
At least, that's what I'd do. Somehow get it into the open as soon as
possible so that your boyfriend doesn't have a chance to find out himself
and misinterpret the situation."
"Well... maybe. We don't really date a whole lot. More visit at each
other's home, mostly. Maybe something like that would work. But you and
Nick won't need to come though. I know you guys like your time together."
Tracy winked at Natalie. "Speaking of, I probably should let you go now.
Since we have a couple of days off now now, you should go spent time with
that partner of mine. Thanks for the advice. I'll figure something out
now that I have a starting point." Tracy smiled at her friend.
Soon the two women were each waving their goodbyes and climbing into their
own vehicles.
-=-=-
**********[ end part 2 ]**********
A week later Vachon came to meet Tracy at the precinct. Seeing Nick
first, he pulled him aside. "Knight. Do you know that Screed has been
hanging out with Trace?"
Nick looked puzzled. "Why?"
"They're friends. He's been at her place a lot listening to cd's." The
Spanish vampire shrugged. "She found the karaoke version of one he wants,
apparently." Seeing Tracy and Natalie enter the room, he stood, but
whispered under his breath. "You might want to come too."
Vachon walked over to Tracy and took her hand briefly. "Hey."
"Hey, yourself. What are you doing here?" Tracy replied.
"I told Screed I was dropping by, and asked me to give you a message. He
found the cd you'd left when he woke up. Said he's taking it the club
tonight since it's karaoke night. He says if you want to join us, he'll
wait until you show up."
"Yeah, I'd like that. I'll come right over after work." Seeing Reese
looking out of his office door, she pulled her hand away. "I'll meet you
guys there after work then. Thanks for telling me!"
"Later, Trace." Vachon turned and hurried out.
-=-=-
As soon as they were able to book off, Nick went and picked up Natalie
from her work. After telling Nat what Vachon had told him, Natalie
convinced Nick they should stop at the Raven briefly themselves. She
didn't really know Screed, but thought if Tracy's friend and boyfriend
were both there for Karaoke, there was a possibility that Tracy might
sing, too.
They parked down the block and saw Tracy's car as they walked up. "It'll
be better if we don't join them, Nat. Because I'm known here there's
always the possibility that someone might bring me a drink which Trace
would recognize. And I don't want to stay very long."
Entering the club, they found themselves a table to sit at from which they
could see the stage. They could also see the table nearest the stage,
where Tracy sat with her back to them. Seated with her were Vachon,
Screed, and Urs, as well as a couple of young vampires that Nick
recognized as friends of the Spaniard. Seeing Urs recognize him, Nick
shook his head.
Natalie saw Urs' nearly imperceptible nod. "Who's that, and what's that
about?"
"She's one of us. Vachon's. She knows me. I don't want her coming over
and talking to me, thereby letting Tracy know I'm known here. I've
ordered you red wine so if Tracy see us she'll think we're having the
same. I hope you don't mind." As Natalie nodded, a waitress seemed to
appear at their table from nowhere, with a small bottle of red wine and
two filled wineglasses. She carefully handed one to each of them.
A few minutes later, the DJ that LaCroix used for the Karaoke nights
appeared. He called up someone, and set up their song for them and
disappeared while they sung. A couple more singers, and then Urs was
called up, and did a good job on a love song. Another couple of people,
and the next person totally trashed a country song, but had a thoroughly
great time doing so!. Then Screed was called. He brought up a cd with
him which he gave to the DJ, pointing on cover which song it was he
wanted.
Then a minute passed while the DJ loaded the machine and set it up for the
right track. During this, Screed spoke. "I bin lookin' fer this li'l
number, but 't was me frien' Tracy wot foun' it fer me. So's I dedicaty
it ta 'er by way o' thanks. Screed smiled broadly at his friends at the
table; his own grin being matched by Tracy's as Vachon slid his arm around
her.
Then the track was ready, and Screed waited for the colour changes for the
words to begin. Of course, since the disc was intended for home machines,
it didn't have any relating videography in the background.
When the song started up, although Natalie thought Screed's voice was
totally unlike the any of the members of the group which sung it, it was
well suited to his voice and peculiar accent, even if it wasn't Irish or
from the the Atlantic provinces.
As the introductory music played, the screen read:
Then the song began, and Screed sang:
Oh ye landsmen and ye seamen, come listen to my song;
It's of a trick was played on me, it won't delay ye long.
I came from sea the other day, a fair 'irl I did meet.
She kindly asked me to a dance, was up on Peter Street.
"Oh no," says I, "me fair maid, 'tho I can dance quite well,
Tonight I'm bound for Wigelo's town, it's where my people dwell."
You'd better come with me," she said, "For the distance is not far."
And findin' her so friendly, I jumped into her car.
Well as the dance was over, straight to the bed did go,
Was little did I ever think she'd pull my overthrow!
From my gold watch and 30 pounds, a pack of fags and fled,
And left me there stark naked alone upon the bed!
Now when I awoke in the mornin' it was nothing did I spy
But a woman's shirt and apron upon the bed did lie.
I wrung my hands, I tore my hair, I cried "What shall I do?"
Ah, tonight I'm bound for Wigelo's town, no more will I see you.
Well as the streets were lonesome at the hour of 2 o'clock,
I put on the shirt and apron, and marched down to the dock.
The crew they saw me coming. These words to me did say:
"My dear old chap, you struck a snap since you been gone away!"
"Are those the new spring fashions that the ladies wear on shore?"
"Where is the shop you bought 'em at, an' is there any more?"
The Captain on the quarter-deck looked at me with a frown,
Said "Jack, me boy, a better suit than that for 30 pounds?"
"I would sir, if I could sir, if I only got the chance,
But I met a girl on Peter Street an' she asked me to a dance.
She danced my heart's deception - I got robbed from head to feet!
An' I'll take my oath - No more I'll go to a dance on Peter Street!"
Oh ye landsmen an' ye seamen, a warning take by me:
Be sure to choose good company when you go out on spree!
Be sure to choose good company, or ye'll find yourself like me -
With a woman's shirt and apron for to fit you out for sea!
Screed handed back the microphone to the DJ, and waited for him to hand
back the karaoke disk, then took his seat at his table with his friends.
He found himself rewarded with a hug from Tracy before she slid back
against Vachon.
Natalie and Nick stood up, and Nick nodded at Vachon who arched his
eyebrow in acknowledgement over Tracy's shoulder. As they were driving
back to the loft, Natalie asked "So do they do Karaoke often?"
"If you want to go again, it's probably not a good idea."
"No, but it would be fun to get you up on stage." Natalie refused to let
Nick slide into a funk if she could help it. "Maybe next time we can do
the Barbie song!"
Nick looked at her blankly, obviously unfamiliar with it, and Natalie
laughed. She knew she'd have to get him there at least one more time, and
up on stage with her.
-=-=-
At the church, Screed and Tracy were visiting with Vachon. Vachon was
trying to get the story out of Screed as to why it had to be that
particular song, and at first Screed wasn't telling.
"But you told Tracy," Vachon pointed out. "I can find out from her."
"I won't betray a confidence, Vachon." Tracy laughed.
Vachon arched his eyebrow at her. "Did I say you'd 'tell'?"
Tracy rubbed a hand across her neck.
"Aw-roight, I'll tells ya." Screed smiled exaggeratedly. "We wouldn'
wan' nothin' ta 'appen ta 'at pretty li'l neck o' 'ers now, would we?"
He began to tell Vachon the same tale he had related to Tracy some time
earlier, suitably embellished for a telling his male friend, of course.
-=-=-=-=-
Comments welcomed at my addy below. Thanks for reading this; I hope
you enjoyed it. HUGS! -Micki
"Micki" Lynn McCormick -------------------------
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