Written By Brad Harness
Francine sat prettily next to her boyfriend, Henri. She wore a summery dress with a floral print design. I didn’t know how old she was, but I guessed she was a few years younger than Henri Foubert, whom I pegged at 35 years old.
“Hey, I really loved your show tonight,” she smiled, extending a hand. I shook it gently, as Francine looked somewhat petite.
“Thanks,” I replied. “Come here often?” I added, with a bit of humour. What?? I am The Comedian, after all. She didn’t seem to mind.
Henri changed the subject. “So, does the crew get to go on the excursions at each stop?”
“No, but we are allowed to spend a few hours ashore to buy anything we may need.”
Henri had his mind on the next destination. “San Juan. Been there before?”
“Yes, of course,” I responded. “Like…a dozen times now. Nice place.”
“Maybe…,” began Henri, “you can come ashore with us to walk around a bit? Like our very own guide.”
Francine leaned towards me, her face lifted upwards. As she leaned closer, her low-cut dress made her cleavage readily apparent. I told myself to look elsewhere. She carried on with what she had intended to say. “Bobby, I would like it if you joined us to walk around a bit.”
Her hand touched mine. I glanced in her eyes, then over at Henri’s. If her actions bothered him, he wasn’t letting on. Francine then asked me, “What’s the best thing to see when we get to San Juan?”
I considered her question, from several angles. “Well, I think that depends on what you like to do. Do you like history? Food? Sports? Shopping?” I asked her.
She sat back, adjusting herself on her seat and tugging the hem of her dress so that it all hung properly.
“I guess shopping and…food.”
At that moment the ship’s intercomm system came to life.
“Hello to everyone. This is Gary, your cruise director speaking. I hope you’re having a nice day aboard Caribbean Princess. We arrive tomorrow morning, 8am, at the cruise terminal in San Juan, Puerto Rico. If you want to book an excursion ashore, be sure to do so this evening before 10pm. For those going ashore to look around, disembarkation begins tomorrow at 10am. Your ‘All Aboard!’ time is 7pm. Ship leaves harbour at 9pm.”
Next Week: Part 3
