It Be Just Alright

CHAPTER ONE

It was a different adventure from the beginning, starting on that humid misty March morning in the high mountains of Aspen, Colorado, Jeffrey banging at my door and I, Wilson Abernathy, waking and stumbling to the door in pre-caffeine oblivion.

"Arise, Up--Up, young Wilson. Adventure awaits you." This was Jeffrey's speech and affect, and it continued as he pounded at my entrance. Bam, Bam, Bam. The frame and trim vibrated with his aggressive knocking. I opened the door that morning to Jeffrey and an adventure that I was not yet party to, almost as the man who departs his steps one morning, knowing the road outside his door goes many places and not realizing that adventure is at hand.

"What the hell, Jeffrey! It's morning. It's early. There was a girl at the bar. She's trying to sleep."

He gave me a glance, a slight leer. "Sadness" whispering now."Sorry", looking towards the still shaded mountains. "I guess it is early, but hey, I'm too excited. Yachts, Wilson."

He shoved a picture in my face, a faded worn picture that would have been tough to make out even if my eyes had not been blurred from the nights debauch. "I am going to buy a yacht in the Bahamas."

Jeffrey radiated an infective excitement, his ski tanned face brown-bright against the sky's deep blue.

"Give me a moment. Let me check on . . ." Stammering, I could not remember her name--never have been any good with them. Faces and substance, but never names.

I closed the door and headed downstairs. The woman was still sleeping sprawled across my bed, one naked leg exposed, tendrils of her hair spread over the pillow. She did not stir as I grabbed a shirt and pants, and headed over to Jeffrey's condominium. A sour symphony played in my head. Hell, I would have much preferred more sleep. I had only had four hours. But motivated by Jeffrey's obvious enthusiasm I climbed his steps and entered without knocking.

Jeffrey's wife, Noelle, regarded me quizzically, raising her eyebrows "Tough night, want some coffee"? She lifted the pot in my direction

"Please, is it that obvious?"

Frowning now- "You went out on a Monday? Who goes out on a Monday?"

"I did, and so did the lady I met, real attractive."

"Jeffrey said you had company. What's her name--from here?"

"I don't know, can't remember"... shaking my head for a moment. "Janice, I think. Yep her names Janice."

"You spend a night with a woman and you're not sure of her name?"

"Hey, I remembered, it was late, we had a lot to drink, some blow, dancing. She's still asleep, and it wasn't a night." I glanced at my watch. "It was only a few hours."

Noelle threw up her hands, and gave me a stare, which said without saying...You asshole. What an idiot!

At that moment, Jeffrey emerged from his office-bedroom, more pictures in his hand. "Look at these, isn't she beautiful? A Rhodes Ranger. Look at the windows. You can tell it's a Rhodes design." He proudly placed the pictures on the table, six in a row, beaming and excited. "Our new yacht," he said.

"You mean your new yacht," Noelle said from the kitchen, where she was kneading dough.

"Our new yacht, honey."

"If you say so."

"Anyway, what do you think, Wilson?"

The pictures showed an attractive sloop about 30 feet in length, sitting in a small cove of blue water and bordering palms. The photo was from a distance, so details were obscure. But she had beautiful lines, long overhangs fore and aft, a design of the C.C.A. rule of the fifties and early sixties. "How much?” I asked. "What does she cost?

“Not sure," he replied. "I've got to make an offer."