Lonny folded another tablecloth and stacked it on the trolley with the other tablecloths and napkins to be used for tomorrow. This saved the ship the cost of paper napkins and the tablecloths decreased the wear and tear of the pretty wooden tables. After getting the ship’s laundry caught up, she readied the huge laundry room for individuals coming in to do their own laundry. With all of the different schedules, Lonny had to make sure the laundry room was available most of the day, so people could do their laundry in their spare time. She swept and mopped, wiped down the outside of each machine and emptied all of the tokens into her little cash box to be turned into the finance manager on the ship. Each of the people who had jobs aboard the ship were paid in tokens, which were then used for the laundry or shopping for clothes, diapers, formula or whatever else they needed.
Lonny saw Gloria’s husband, Ted come in with grease smeared on his face. His face lit up when he saw her and he asked, “Are you finished with the ship’s laundry and is it ok for me to wash some greasy clothes, Lonny?”
Lonny answered, “Yes and yes. You know which machine is reserved for you and the other grease monkeys, Ted. How was your shift? Are we all safe another day?”
Ted smiled and said, “Yes, everything is on track. Say, how did you like that new meal? I haven’t had Mexican food in a long time. I really liked the chili rellenos and cheese enchiladas! I could eat those every day!”
Lonny said, “It was nice to have a new entree! I much prefer spaghetti and meatballs, though. It reminds me of when my children were young. I think they could have eaten that meal three times a week and not complained! I miss those times so badly, Ted.”
“I know what you mean, Lonny. I only had one little girl and sometimes it seemed like she would never grow up so we could get her off on her own. But now, it seems like those days were a dream, they went so fast! I haven’t seen her in ten years because she married a man from England and moved away.”
“I have four children, but they are so busy with their own lives that they haven’t been able to visit for a long time. It is just too expensive for them and they are working and keeping up with their children’s schooling. I got a letter from them yesterday, though and they may come out here to visit next year!. They wished me a happy 72nd birthday! I’ll bring the cute card and show it to you tomorrow.”Lonny said.
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Ted finished up his laundry and said good-bye for now.
A tired looking mother came in with her three children. They weren’t old enough for school, and there weren’t enough teachers to get the kindergarten and nursery school open yet, so Laura, 23 years old, was doing her laundry with the help?! of the children!
Lonny looked up from her work and said to Laura, “we have a kids' corner with fun things to do. May I take your children over there and show them?”
Laura said, “Yes, please!” and gladly handed them over to Lonny. The children immediately started playing with the toys and were quiet!
Nancy had taken to swimming for exercise and relaxation after getting the food prepped in the kitchen every day. She had a difficult time getting around walking, but when she was in the water, she felt like she had wings! She had been a lifeguard before she married and took to the water just like a river otter. Today her goal was twenty laps of assorted strokes. She smiled at Laura who had just walked in after finishing up her laundry with her little ones to take them in wading. Nancy began with the backstroke and then when she changed to the breaststroke, she bumped into someone. She looked up to apologize and saw the still body of a little child. Before Nancy had time to think, she grabbed the child and got her back to the side of the pool and struggled out of the water herself. She started doing CPR, trying really hard to remember exactly how to do it on a small child.
Laura screamed after looking around and not finding her 2 year old daughter. She then saw Nancy working on her and screamed again and rushed over to her! Just as she got to her, the child spat out water, coughed and cried! Laura grabbed her, crying and thanked Nancy for saving her life!
Nancy felt invigorated, even after a day of work and some energetic swimming, because she was needed! She sat in a lounge chair by the pool while she caught her breath and took some time to think about what had just happened. She started counting her blessings. “I'm so thankful to have been here just when that baby needed help and so glad I had training in CPR and was a lifeguard also. It just makes my whole day to have been needed to save that baby. I must ask Laura the next time I see her if I can help her when she takes the children swimming. It would be a shame if she doesn’t take them swimming anymore because of being afraid of a repeat.” Nancy smiled to herself as she walked back to her room.