Anchored To You

Chapter 4

The next morning at six o’clock on the open channel the harbour master’s office called My Loves. Dad walked lazily over to the radio.

– My Loves.

– Captain, we… we… we have a dock.

– Thank you, Captain. We’ll be there in an hour or two.

– Thank you, Captain!

Mom looked at me, I looked at her, then we both looked at Dad. He was sitting with coffee and smoking a cigarette.

– What did you do to him?

– Nothing.

– How nothing, if he’s shitting himself?

– Defective model.

– Max, even at your age you’re just as stupid.

– Men don’t age, darling. – Mom slapped her forehead and quietly groaned “Porca Miseria.”

I cast off the lines and threw the fenders into the forward locker. We motored to the marina. In less than an hour we were alongside. The deputy harbour master greeted us. He handed over a slip like a parking ticket and walked away without a word. I saw anger and fear in his eyes. Dad had that icy look I rarely saw. It wasn’t about money. It was about extortion and making money under the table.

He nodded slightly to us and pointed to starboard. He spoke quietly.

– Hania’s birthday is tomorrow. Let’s organise a birthday party for her.

– It would be best if we divided the roles, Dad.

– Exactly. I suggest you take care of the cake with eighteen candles, Chiara the presents, and I’ll handle the décor.

– Max, what does “décor” mean?

– You know, balloons, champagne and so on.

– Haven’t you taken on too much?

– I’ll manage somehow.

Dad ordered a taxi and we drove into the centre. Magically, four solidly built men appeared by the taxi. Dark-haired, of clear Indian appearance. What gave them away was their immaculate clothing and the gun barrels sticking out from under their jackets.

– Max, is this necessary?

– Yes. Look after yourselves.

We split up. I wandered through dirty alleys looking for a cake shop. Eventually I found one. I ordered her favourite meringue cake with sour raspberry sauce. And eighteen candles. I arranged to collect it the next day.

Dad and Mom were already waiting for me. On the pavement lay a carton of champagne.

– Dad, I’m surprised you managed!

– Damn, you know, maybe you’re right. I got tired.

Mom smiled. The Bioset operators drove us right to the port and we said goodbye. We returned to My Loves. Amy and Hania were sitting at the table on the port side. Hania was coiffed, made up, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.

– Where have you been?

– We’re preparing for the voyage to Tirunelveli, Auntie.

– That’s good. I don’t like this city. The people aren’t nice either. Some of them are greedy. While you were gone a boy came who wanted to sell us beads. We refused. He swore at us and spat on the yacht.

Dad’s eyes narrowed and I saw that cold look again. He went below to his cabin. A moment later he came out with a weapon under his shirt. Mom looked at him.

– Max, calm down. Nothing happened.

– I don’t know. I’m not going to take risks. Ewa, come, we’ll make dinner.

– We had the bake. How about tuna steaks with mash?

Everyone was enthusiastic. We went down to the half-deck with Dad. He peeled the potatoes; after a moment they started bubbling. He took a piece of tuna out of the freezer. I loved the freezer. When I didn’t open it it was full. Mostly different kinds of fish. A bit less seafood, but still nothing to complain about. Sometimes I regretted that the freezer was so small.

He went up on deck and switched on the grill. I was cutting vegetables, feta and preparing the sauce. Mom came down from the deck, opened the fridge, took out the whiskey and poured two glasses. For herself literally a little. For Dad three-quarters. She drew him aside, but I still heard everything.

– What’s bothering you?

– I f****d up. It won’t happen again.

– But with what?

– I ensured your safety, but not Hania’s, Amy’s and My Loves.

– Max, aren’t you exaggerating? It’s just a boy who does scams.

– But someone should have been here.

Dinner was excellent. After a hearty meal and a glass of wine Hania felt stronger. She went down to her cabin by herself, took a shower and lay down.

I got up after eight. Coming out on deck I was surprised by the countless balloons. They were everywhere. Looking over the side I reckoned the yacht had risen by a couple of centimetres. We were surrounded by helium-filled balloons of every colour.

In the morning Dad prepared his signature breakfast. You couldn’t make a better one. Hamburgers. Mom clutched her head and started shouting at him in Italian.

– Santa Madonna. You i***t! You’re serving hamburgers for breakfast?

– Yeees. – Dad answered calmly.

– Who’s going to eat that?

– Everyone.

– I don’t believe you. i***t! Just an i***t!

On the platter there was one salad. On the plate lay the hamburgers. Hania and Amy came last, as usual. Coffee and tea stood in jugs. Ketchup, mayonnaise, salt and pepper always accompanied us.

Amy poured tea for herself and Hania. They each took a bun and started eating. Both melted.

– Max! This is amazing. I know it’s unhealthy, but it’s so delicious!

– I’m glad, Auntie. Enjoy. By the way, happy birthday! Look after yourself and I wish you two hundred years.

– Are these balloons for me?

– Yes, Auntie.

– You really made an effort, my dear son.

I decided to record the moment. I filmed on my phone. Dad hugged Auntie. Mom brought the cake with eighteen candles. We had to help her blow them all out. Mom brought the presents. There were only three: earrings, a watch, a mask and fins with a snorkel.

– These are beautiful, my children, but where am I supposed to swim?

– Auntie, you’ll dive with us.

– Dear children, but not at my age.

– Tomorrow we’re sailing south. We have a beautiful place for swimming. Auntie, you’ve done harder things.

– True… but that was a long time ago.

In the evening four men arrived and went to the “head” of the marina. They set up crates and set off flares. It looked like New Year’s Eve. Hania was fascinated and happy as a child.

– Max, is this for my birthday?

– Yes, Auntie.

– Thank you, you’re all wonderful. These are my best birthdays!

– Dad, you really made an effort.

Mom looked at me and smiled slightly.

– You have a tendency to judge in advance, darling.

In the morning we sailed. The wind was favourable again. We headed south. Dad set the destination for Vasco da Gama Bay, less than a hundred and fifty miles from Bombay. After a little over six hours we were there. We dropped anchor. He checked that it was holding well. The water was blue and crystal clear. I saw countless species of fish swimming under the surface. I wanted to jump into the sea and feel free. Except that I was free. Dad looked at Hania.

– Auntie, time for a swim.

He asked me to look after Hania. I was a little disappointed. After all, I was the “oceanographer.” I took only a mask and fins. Dad and Mom took full gear, including spearguns. They dived. After less than an hour they had four quite large groupers clipped on.

Dad took Mom’s buoyancy vest with the tank off her, took the speargun and the fish. Before she had rinsed off the salt water he had made fillets and washed the blood and scales from the swim platform.

He seasoned them and put them in the fridge. Hania was enjoying the water. Her muscles didn’t allow for any wildness, but she was having a great time.

In the evening Mom switched on the neon lights and the whole deck was lit with warm light. She turned on the underwater lighting, which made numerous species of fish circle around the hulls, drawn by the light.

The fillets went into beer batter and with vegetables made a proper meal. Hania was again satisfied. I noticed that we were all starting to focus on her. It didn’t bother me, especially after what I had heard from the doctor who had visited her.

In the morning I decided to dive alone. I was taking photos and filming. I didn’t notice, even with the computer on my wrist, that I had run out of air. Dad, who appeared from nowhere, inflated the vest, gave me his regulator and thanks to that I surfaced.

– Thanks, Dad!

– That’s why you don’t dive alone. I’ve told you so many times!

– Sorry. I didn’t want to bother you.

– You could have asked even Amy. You’re going back to My Loves. Now!

I carefully put down the camera gear, took off the fins and climbed on board. Getting that junk off took a moment. Rinsing off the seawater, which destroys everything, took even longer. In wet hair, panties and bra I stood in front of Mom. I could see from her eyes that it wouldn’t be good.

– Darling, are you some kind of retarded?

Of course I knew why.

– Mom, give it a rest…

– If it hadn’t been for Dad we’d still be looking for you. Switch your brain on, for God’s sake! You’re not five years old!

Mom had never spoken to me like that. She wasn’t my biological mother, but she had raised me. She wasn’t angry. She was furious and panicked.

– Yes, Mom.

– I’m thinking! You’re too smart and too precious to drown because of your own stupidity.

Without a word I went down to my cabin, took a shower and changed. Aware that the rest of the morning would not be easy. I had the feeling that if my parents could, they would have strangled me. With the perspective of time it was pure stupidity and their anger was justified.

As punishment Dad decided to invent shared tasks. Checking the propeller, the hull, the lines, the sails, or the windlass. By evening I’d had enough. Finally he asked me to do the laundry. At last, when I could lie down, I collapsed lifeless onto the bunk and slept until morning.