Afraid Knot, page 6
The toddler clung to Olivia. Olivia gave her a hug. “Want me to come with you?”
Isabella put her thumb in her mouth and nodded her head.
Olivia reached down, took her hand, and led her to the baby pool. She lifted her up over the edge of the pool and plopped her into the water.
Isabella reached up for Olivia and stomped her feet in the water.
Olivia sat on the edge of the pool and put her feet in the water. “Is this better? I’m right here with you.”
Rachel dumped a laundry basket of pool toys into the water.
Olivia picked up a little rubber fish and raced it through the water to Isabella. “Fishy, fishy!”
Isabella took the fish toy from Olivia and sat down on her bottom in the shallow water. She wiggled the little fish back and forth in the water.
Olivia ducked, but it was too late. A bucket of water came flying at her, drenching her. “Jimmy! Do not throw things.”
Jimmy hopped out of the pool and ran across the pool deck to the little plastic slide.
Olivia squeezed the water out of her hair. “Walking feet Jimmy. No running.” She shouted. She stood up. The red stripes of her shirt showed through her wet white shorts.
“Oh man. He really got you.” Rachel made a face.
“Yeah. He really got me.” Olivia exhaled. “We just have to get to lunchtime, right?”
“Yes, lunch. And then we have to get through the rest of the day.”
“I always knew how hard the staff and crew worked, but after this cruise, I will have a new appreciation.”
“Yes!” Rachel picked up a sock a child had left on the deck. “I will never whine again about having to work a shift at the library.”
“Let me know next time you work and I’ll come hang out with you.”
“I promise not to splash you!”
“See! A step up from here!” Olivia raised her hand to her mouth. “Jimmy! No running. You can slip and fall and get hurt on the wet deck. Do you understand?”
Jimmy stuck his tongue out and wiggled his hips back and forth.
“Can we go to the library now?”
Hayley opened the door and pointed at her watch. “We need everyone back in their clothes and dry in twenty minutes.”
Isabella picked up her fish and stood up in the pool. She climbed over the edge of the pool and headed towards the slide.
Olivia squinted. “What is wrong with her swimsuit?”
Isabella waddled to the slide. Her swimsuit bottoms were stretched out like she had a ball in them.
“Liv, was she in a swim diaper or a regular diaper?”
Olivia’s eyes darted back and forth. “I didn’t know there were special diapers for swimming.”
As Isabella climbed the steps up the slide, her swimsuit bottom slid down under her swollen diaper.
Hayley shook her head. “It’s amazing that there is any water left in the kiddie pool. I think her diaper soaked it all up.”
Isabella reached the top step of the slide and plopped down on her bottom.
A damp exploding sound came from across the children’s pool area.
“Oh, no.” Olivia lurched forward.
Piles of white gel landed on the slide and on the pool deck.
Olivia ran towards Isabella, trying to grab her before she slid down the slide.
“No running!” Jimmy shouted at her as she caught Isabella up in her arms.
Olivia took a deep breath and ignored him.
Isabella’s diaper was blown out in the back and chunks of gel fell out onto the ground.
Olivia held her out in front of her as she carried Isabella into the small bathroom off the Kid’s Club.
She pulled out one of the extra diapers from the pile tucked in a basket under the changing table and cleaned Isabella up. “Oh girl. What a mess.”
Isabell stuck the toy fish in her mouth.
“No!” Olivia grabbed it out of her hand and Isabella burst into sobs. “It was in the pool water. You can’t put it in your mouth.”
Olivia held the damp child to her chest and rocked her back and forth, soothing her. After she got Isabella calmed down, she dressed her and took her back out into the Kid’s Club. The parents lined up at the doors to pick their kids up for lunch.
Jimmy’s mom came to sign him out. “Did you have fun?”
Jimmy pointed at Olivia. “She’s bad. She ran. We’re not supposed to run, right Mommy?”
His mom whisked him out of the door.
Once all the kids had been picked up, Rachel, Hayley, and Olivia picked up the toys on the floor of the Kid’s Club.
Hayley grabbed her stomach. “I’m starving. Thank goodness this morning is over!”
“Almost over,” Olivia gestured towards the door to the kiddie pool. “We’ve got to clean up out there.”
Hayley looked at the clock. “Great. We have to be back here in forty minutes. We’re not going to have much time to eat lunch.”
Olivia shook her head. “No, you and Rach go have lunch. I’ll clean up the mess. I might be a few minutes late coming back after lunch.”
“Take your time. We’ll hold down the fort until you get here.”
Olivia fished the toys out of the kiddie pool and washed them all off. She stuck the laundry basket of toys back in the storage closet and walked out to the slide. She shook her head, unsure of how to clean up the exploded diaper.
Olivia took the only broom she found in the closet and tried to sweep up as much of the gel as she could, but it just kept rolling across the decking.
She went back inside the Kid’s Club and called the Purser’s Desk.
“Chief Purser.”
“Oh good, Sophie! It’s me, Olivia.”
“Hey mate. How are you?”
“I’ve been better. We had a diaper explosion in the Kid’s Club. Can you send a cleaner to help me?
“A what exploded?”
“One of the kid’s diapers.” Olivia thought for a second. “A nappy exploded.”
“Oh bless, of course. I’ll send someone up right off.”
“Thanks, Sophie.”
Irena came up to the gate at the door. “Miss Sophie said you needed a cleanup?”
“Yes! Oh, thank you, Irena!” Olivia led her outside and showed her the mess. “I tried to clean it up, but it just kept rolling around.”
“Cat litter.”
“No, it isn’t cat litter. One of the kid’s diapers exploded.”
“No, I mean I will put down cat litter. It will soak up the water in the diaper gel and then I can sweep it up.”
“Oh, you’re brilliant!” Olivia grinned. “Thank you so much!”
Irena smiled. “Thank you. That means so much. Not everyone is so grateful to us when we clean. I can’t tell you how many times I came in here and they left the place a disaster. I had to clean up all the toys that had been left out before I could even vacuum in the Kid’s Club.”
“Oh, my goodness! That’s awful. I can’t imagine leaving the place a mess and expecting you to clean up the toys. That’s not your job.”
“Some people treat the cleaning staff like we aren’t even human beings with feelings. I will go get the cat litter and be back soon.”
“Do you need me to stay here and wait for you or is it okay if I go get lunch?”
“No need to stay. I can handle it all, just fine.” Irena headed out. “Can you leave the Kid’s Club unlocked for me?”
“Sure. Hey! Before you go. You haven’t seen Emerald, have you?”
“Emerald?” Irena pushed the gate open. “Not for a few days.”
“Have you seen her this cruise?”
“I do not know. Why?”
“She didn’t show up for work this cruise.”
“Sounds like something she would do.”
Olivia cocked her head. “Why do you say that?”
Irena shrugged. “It just does.” Irena shut the gate behind her.
Olivia’s hair hung in damp tangles around her face as she took the crew steps down to the Officers’ Mess to grab something to eat. Chunks of diaper gel clung to Olivia’s shorts. The red stripes bled through her white shorts, leaving pink streaks.
Olivia grabbed a tray off of the stack and put a plate and silverware on it. She turned to pick up the salad tongs and bumped into another crew member, also reaching for them.
Bianca, the jewelry shop manager, jumped backwards, away from Olivia. “Ew. What happened to you?”
Olivia pursed her lips. “Got a little wet.”
“You look like you got a lot wet. What is that stuff all over you?” Bianca wrinkled her nose and took another step back. She brushed white gel off of her slim black skirt.
Olivia started to explain, but decided that telling Bianca about diaper gel wouldn’t help the situation. She shrugged.
Bianca took her tray and walked to her table.
Olivia closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. I am not getting dressed up in a costume. This uniform is embarrassing enough.” A hot flush of shame washed over Olivia as she thought of Bianca’s reaction to her soggy, stained, diaper gel covered uniform at lunch.
Hayley threw her arm around Oliva’s shoulder. “Come on. You’ll be perfect!”
“Chico loves you, Hayley. He can sit on your shoulder while you’re dressed up like a pirate.”
Hayley shook her head. “He and I are buddies, but he’ll feel more secure with you. The kids will be excited and loud. He’ll be happier being close to you.”
“You are using my love for my parrot to get out of dressing up like a pirate?” Olivia glared at Hayley and then sighed. “Why do you have to be right? Ugh, I hate it when you’re right! He will be more comfortable with me.”
“At least you’ll get out of leading the kids through the ship. You and Chico will get to hang out by the Bridge together until they finish the scavenger hunt and find you.”
“Yeah, hang out dressed like a pirate. Super fun. Good try, though.”
“Just trying to look at the positive.” Hayley shrugged. She opened up the closet and pulled out a brown wooden pirate’s chest.
Olivia lifted the lid and jumped back. “Oh, my goodness! I thought it was a dead animal!” She pulled out a brown curly wig.
Hayley took it from her and plopped in on her head. “Can’t be a proper pirate without dark, curly hair!”
Olivia’s bottom lip stuck out. “This just keeps getting worse and worse.”
“You look adorable!” She tucked a loose blond strand up under the wig.
Rachel skipped down the stairs from the bathroom. “Oh!” She pulled to a stop.
Olivia turned towards Rachel. “It’s me.”
Rachel covered her heart with her hand. “Whoa! Well, that’s a look.”
Olivia glared at Hayley. “Apparently, I’ve been roped into dressing up as a pirate for the kid’s scavenger hunt.”
“Wow.”
“Unless you want the opportunity?”
“Uh, no. Thanks though.” She leaned towards Olivia and peaked into the wig. “Are you sure that thing doesn’t have bugs living in it?”
Olivia whipped it off her head. “Yuck. I’ll wear a wig cap under it for sure.”
“Good idea.” Hayley pulled out a long-sleeved red and white striped shirt, a vest, and pants and handed them to Olivia. “Go to your cabin, get changed, and get Chico. Rach and I will stash the treasure chest under the stairs by the Bridge. Okay?”
“Resigned.” Olivia sighed. “I think that is the right word. I am resigned to my fate.”
“See, you’re sounding like a pirate already.” Rachel patted her back. “At least you don’t have to walk the plank.”
“Hey!” Chico greeted Olivia as she entered her cabin.
“Hey right back. I’ve missed you this cruise.” Olivia dumped the costume on her bunk.
“Treat?” Chico lifted his right foot and waved at Olivia.
“You know what, yes, you can have a treat.” Olivia handed him a sunflower seed. “Want to go on an adventure with me?”
Chico dropped the shell and gobbled down the seed. “More treat?”
“Yes, there will be treats involved.”
“Oooh, baby!” Chico shouted. He launched into a scale. “La, la la, la!”
“All of this alone time while I’ve been working has got you rested and raring to go, hasn’t it?”
“Hmmm…snack?”
“We’ll get to snacks. First, I need to get into this awful outfit.” Olivia lifted the shirt up off her bed. “I just can’t get away from these blasted red and white stripes!”
Olivia changed into the pirate costume and put a wig cap over her hair. She looked at herself in the mirror. “You could have a nice normal job. Work in an office.Wear pretty clothes to work every day. But here you are, dressed up like a pirate.”
“Pie?”
“No, Chico. Not Pie. Pirate.” Olivia slipped her foot into her boots and tied them up. She pulled the wig on her head and plopped the tricorn hat on top of the curls.”
“Whoa, Nelly!” Chico ran to the back of his cage. “Aaaah!!!”
“It’s just a wig, you silly bird.” Olivia held out an almond. “Come here. Step up.”
Chico raised a foot off the floor of his cage and then put it back down. He looked at Olivia suspiciously. His desire for the almond won out, and he stepped onto her hand.
Olivia pulled him out of his cage. “You know how I rarely let you sit on my shoulder?”
Chico warily studied the halo of curls on Olivia’s head.
“Today is your lucky day, because parrots sit on pirates’ shoulders.”
Chico leaned back as Olivia lifted him to her shoulder. He cautiously stepped onto her shoulder, leaning away from her dark hair.
“Might as well go all out if I’m going to do this.” Olivia took some of her black eyeshadow and brushed it on her face. She put in a gold hoop earring on the ear on the opposite side of Chico. “I don’t need you pulling the earring out.”
They passed a few crew members on their way to the elevator, but most of the crew members didn’t pay them any attention. They were used to seeing strange things happen in the crew hallways.
Olivia and Chico took the crew elevator to the Bridge.
They had tucked the treasure chest under the stairs where Hayley had promised it would be. Olivia pulled it out and opened the lid.
The trunk was filled with small plastic toys and wrapped candies.
“Ooh! Treat!”
“This is candy. It isn’t good for you, Chico.” Olivia closed the lid and sat down on the painted metal steps, waiting for the kids to find her and Chico.
“La, la, la, laaaa!” Chico belted out a scale. His song echoed off of the empty metal hallway walls.
“Save it for when the kids find us, alright?”
“What are you doing?” Chico trilled. “What are you, what are you, what are you doing?”
“Waiting for the kids.” A door opened around the corner. Olivia hunched down by the treasure chest in the cubby under the stairs.
Someone’s shoes clicked along the bare floor. Whoever they were, they were too quiet to be the group of kids. Olivia popped out into the stairwell. “Oh.”
Alex froze. He squinted. “Olivia?”
“The one and only.”
He shook his head and chuckled. “Well, this is a surprise. I only realized it was you when I saw Chico.”
“Hey, baby!” Chico shouted.
“Hey, yourself!” Alex reached into his pocket and pulled out an almond. He held it up. “May I?”
“Are you carrying around an almond in your pocket for Chico?”
Alex shrugged. “Gotta look out for my buddy, right?”
“Oooh!” Chico wiggled back and forth, shaking his wings.
“Can I give it to him?”
“You have to give it to him now. He’ll follow you around the ship until you do.”
“Excellent! Here you go, Chico.” Alex took a step toward Chico, holding out the nut.
Chico flapped his wings with excitement. Olivia’s wig blew across her face from the breeze he generated. The wig moving startled Chico, and he launched himself off of Olivia’s shoulder and landed on Alex’s hand.
“Snack?”
Alex grinned. “Of course!” He handed Chico the almond.
Chico grabbed the almond and perched on his hand, eating it.
Olivia shook her head. “He never goes to men.”
“Well, he came to me! We’re buddies, aren’t we?” Alex took in Olivia’s outfit. “So, what’s the deal with the pirate costume? Do I need to warn the Captain that we have a marauder on board?”
“I’m wearing this ridiculous costume for the kids. Hayley and Rachel are leading them on a scavenger hunt to find treasure.” Olivia gestured towards the chest on the floor behind her.
“You and Chico are treasures, so that makes sense.” He reached up to pet Chico’s back.
Chico whined a little and leaned away from his hand, but then went right back to eating his almond.
“Amazing. Chico never lets men touch him. I don’t know exactly what happened before I adopted him, but he has always been afraid of men. He likes Joseph, but Joseph has never tried to pick him up. Chico wouldn’t even let Peter give him a treat.”
“Chico obviously has excellent taste.”
Screams echoed off the walls and the sounds of little kids shouting and racing up the stairs bounced off the ceiling.
“Sounds like you are about to be discovered by a bunch of little treasure hunters.”
“I believe you are correct.”
Alex lifted Chico up to Olivia.
Chico hopped onto Olivia’s hand. “Ahoy, matey!”
“Ahoy!”
Olivia put Chico on her shoulder and slid behind the trunk.
The noise grew louder as the kids stomped towards her hiding place. They rounded the corner wearing paper pirate hats and wielding paper swords.
Hayley shushed them. “You have to be quiet when you’re looking for treasure. You don’t want to give away any secrets!”
The kids quieted briefly before their excitement got the best of them and the volume went back up.
Rachel held up a piece of paper. “I found a clue!”
