“What seems to be the problem here?”

Previously: Melissa James had desk duty, and one of her assignments for the day was to contact all the tug boat captains and inform them their assignment had changed.

“WHY?” you may ask, GENTLE READER, and I may just give you an answer—or not. Suffice it to say the original tug boat illustrations—DISAPPEARED (and that’s all I care to say about that)!

Imagine their surprise when Debra and Joey arrived just as Melissa was ending her call to Merle McIntyre, “That’s right, all the tugs are gone as they’re no longer required. Yes, that’s right—see you tomorrow.”

 “What do you mean the tugs are gone?” Debra asked, “We just bought new motorcycles—how can pay for them—and our condos?”

Boomer Note: Okay—OKAY! When I re-illustrated the harbor—I deleted the old harbor illustrations—which I believe included the tugboats and crews. It’s the only way they could have been eliminated. I’ve gone through ALL my files, and they’re nowhere to be found.

Season 13—Adventure 8—Every Day Danger Bay—Episode 4—Scene 1… At the Tour Boat HQ… “What seems to be the problem here?”

“What seems to be the problem here?”

“The tugboats are gone?” Debra replied, “That was our livelihood!”

“They are gone,” Molly replied, “As are the old MV Danger Bay, Sparrow, and Jason Everett Martin—all three required tugboats to guide them into the docks.”

“So,” Joey made an assumption, “You’re going out of business?”

“Oh HELL to the NO!” Molly laughed, “I have replacement boats.”

“But no tugs?”

“They’re not required,” Molly replied, “The boats are all Crusader-based—but a good deal larger, yet they don’t require tugs.”

“So, we’re still out of work.”

“Not at all,” Molly laughed, “Until now, I captained all three boats—limiting my operation to one very-long tour at a time. With these three new boats, you two, and Merle McIntyre, we can keep all three boats busy—and each have some time-off to boot. That is if you are interested.”

“You had to ask?” Debra was all smiles.

“Okay—OKAY!” Molly feigned concern they wouldn’t accept, “You three will get profit-sharing.”

“We’ll have to consider,” Joey laughed, “We’ll need to see the boats.”

“I suppose we could take the Sparrow out,” Molly replied, “She’s the first to be delivered.”

Every Day Danger Bay—Episode 4—Scene 2… Aboard the MV Sparrow… “Mr. Jones—get us underway.”

“Aye, Captain—engaging starboard thrusters,” Jones replied from inside the pilothouse as he sounded the boat’s foghorn to announce their departure, “The MV Sparrow is leaving dock.”

“Aye, Captain—engaging starboard thrusters”

The big boat slowly moved away from the dock, “Hey—there’s a helicopter on the deck,” Joey exclaimed.

“All our boats will have a rescue ‘copter aboard,” Molly explained, “We have an agreement with the Coast Guard to have one aboard each and every time we leave port—too frequently some damn-fool gets into trouble—especially off Eagle Point where there are rocks lurking just below the surface of the water.”

“I hope the ‘copter isn’t needed today.”

“Me too, Debra,” Molly replied.

To be Continued…