by J.R. Bowles
CHAPTER 29
As Jackie changed into her uniform she heard them pipe her. “Now, Petty Officer Harris, contact the bridge. Petty Officer Harris contact the bridge.”
“Damn,” she slammed her locker and thought, couldn't they even let her get changed. They had seen her come aboard. She had been early, hoping it would give her some time to get herself together before they got underway.
She finished dressing, went to the sound power phone in the passage outside of her berthing area and rang the bridge.
“Bridge,” a male voice answered.
“Petty Officer Harris.”
“Yes, Petty Officer Harris, Chief Jones wants to speak to you, wait one.”
“Petty Officer Harris,” the Chief's voice traveled across the line.
“Yes, Chief.”
“Sorry to have had to recall you, but Petty Officer Adams is in the hospital.”
“Oh, I see.”
“We need you in the radio shack as soon as you can; the Captain wants to send a message to District and there's incoming traffic.”
“Aye, aye, Chief. I'm on my way,” Jackie replied without any emotion in her voice. She was used to not displaying her emotions on the ship.
She thought, damn Adams, he always had something wrong with him, the sorry piece of shit. She shrugged; as crazy as everything had been the past few days, she had a great time, which made this routine easier to bear.
She ran everything which had occurred through her mind, over and over, while she was on watch.