The steward led your party through the restaurant and into the central
shopping arcade. There were a dozen shops which sold everything from
fruit smoothies to women's bikinis. One of the shop windows was
covered with a drape. The steward opened a door marked "STAFF ONLY"
and led them down a narrow corridor. Then he unlocked a door and
opened it.
"Right this way gentlemen!"
"You're kidding, right? Don't tell me you guys are putting us up in a
store instead of a real cabin!" snapped Brad.
"Please go in. Your berths are through the store."
"Okay, maybe."
"Yeah, Brad, it's probably the cabin for the guys who man the store.
Besides you said you wouldn't spend much time in the cabin."
"No, I didn't say that - you did! But let's see this cabin."
"Right this way," said the steward switching on the light and leading
them across the store which was filled with men's athletic and swim
wear. He guided them to a door on the opposite side from where they
entered. The walked up a small step into the cabin. A heavy drape
cover the wall. There was one bunk bed in the middle and two twin
beds on either side.
"Well, it's a bit cramped, but we each have our own bed," you say.
"Where's the bathroom?" Brad asked looking around the cabin. There
was only the door they came through, and the heavy curtain draped
across the far wall.
"Make yourselves comfortable. Here's a complementary Champagne!" the
steward produced an ice bucket with a bright red champagne bottle in
it.
"What about the bathroom?"
"And where's the thermostat. It's like an oven in here."
The steward answered glibly, "I will check on the air conditioning,
but you are in your cabin and free to undress. As to the bathroom
accommodations, I will have to check with the head steward."
He vanished closing the door behind him.
Brad pounded on the door, shouting, "Hey, come back! There's no
handle on the inside of this door.
POP!
Chris had opened the champagne. He laughed as the bubbly liquid foamed
out of the bottle into the 4 glasses on the table.
"A toast! We're on the cruise ship, and we're going to get laid!"
said Chris.
"Here! Here!" Alan said peeling off his shirt and pants. He walked
over to Chris and collected a champagne glass and then he seated
himself on the far bed with his clothing draped on the bed next to
him.
"Alright, I'll drink to that," Brad said striding over.
"You wanted the top bunk," Chris says nodding at it.
"Right," said Brad he put his left arm across the bed and sipped his
champagne. He swallowed making a face as he did, he asked, "What kind
of champagne is this?"
"Don't know. No words. Just a picture of a gorgon's head. Hm? Does
Versace make wine?"
"No idea. But it tastes plasticky," Brad complained as he took another
sip.
"Can't be too bad, you're still drinking," Chris said refilling his
glass.
You take a sip, and notice that Alan is suddenly quiet and still with
his glass half raised.
"Alan are you all right?" you ask.
You walk toward him bumping into Chris. Chris topples backward and
Brad catches him.
"What the f@#$! Chris is as stiff as a board, and he's only like 50
lbs!" exclaimed Brad as he stands there with bent knees holding his
stiffened friend.
"Crap. He looks like a mannequin!" you say.
You grab the wine bottle, and hold it up. You look at Brad, "Chris and
Alan each had at least two glasses. How much did you drink?"
There is no answer. About 10 minutes later the door to cabin opens.
"Here they are, Mr. Romano. See I told you, I'd get you four
mannequins before we set sail," the head steward said.
A tall tanned guy in a polo shirt enters, and inspects you and your
friends. He pulls your shirt off.
"They're not even wearing my merchandise!" he complains.
"I only promised to get you mannequins. Dressing them is your
concern," said the head steward stiffly.
"No. I'm sorry. It's they're not what I wanted - exactly. They're
too different. They look like people. I had envisioned single colored
generic mannequins. Like the gold and silver ones Under Armor uses."
"Well, try them out. If you want, you can always have them painted."
"Oh, thank you, Maguire," he said.
"Tch, looks like my staff got into the wine stores again," said Head
Steward Jason Maguire, as he collected the champagne glasses, bottle
and cooler.
"Wait. I like it. Four young men on a cruise celebrating with
champagne. Leave the bottle, cooler and glasses."
"How about I get you an empty bottle and four glasses filled with
resin to look like champagne. This stuff will just evaporate."
"Oh, fine. I'll be hours re-dressing and posing these mannequins
anyway," Marc Romano replied.
The head steward left the cooler, but took the bottle and glasses.
When he was down in the staff quarters he shouted for his assistant,
"Willie! Willie Loomis, get out here?"