A Quiet Thank-you
*Revised
By
Linda R. (aka C1Gyramax)
*Orig. version posted on The
Sub Pen
Inspired
by Sue James story, “Reluctant Hero”, and the episode “Submarine Sunk Here”.
Kowalski looked across the table at Patterson and pointed his chin at Seaview’s cook. The reply to his unasked question was a pair of widened eyes and a slow headshake.
Turning his head back toward the galley, Kowalski watched as
Cookie finished folding chocolate batter into the last of a dozen pans, checked
a timer then opened one of the four large ovens. The mouthwatering smell of warm cheesecake
wrapped itself around the galley.
“Hey, Cookie, what’s the deal?”
Patterson rolled his eyes at his friend’s question. It was always best to leave Cookie alone when
he was in the galley. He was as intense
there as the Admiral was in his lab.
Carefully closing the oven door, Cookie swung around to
stare at the upstart crewman. He was a
couple of inches shorter than six foot and a few pounds over 200. Patterson knew bigger guys, but none of them
could make a large room feel like a closet by just standing and glaring. Wonder if Mr. Morton taught him the glare,
or if he taught Mr. Morton? Patterson stayed motionless.
“Whaddaya mean, Kowalski?” Cookie’s growl wasn’t loud, it
didn’t need to be, the walls obediently picked it up
and carried it into each corner of the galley and mess.
Blithely ignoring the growl and the glare, Kowalski cocked
his head at the counter. “That’s the
third dessert you’ve made today. Cupcakes, cheesecake, chocolate cake. We aren’t carrying any passengers, so why
all the work? Have you got scuttlebutt
that we don’t?”
“Maybe I just felt like baking today. You don’t have to eat any of it. I’m sure the other guys will eat your
share. Right, Pat?”
“Uhm, right, Cookie. It won’t go to waste,” Patterson answered
quickly.
“Aww, Cookie, you know I love your food! And nobody makes a better cheesecake than
you!” Kowalski placated. “It’s
just…unusual… for you to bake so many things at the same time. I just thought…” he trailed off, looking at
Pat for help.
“That maybe we missed something important. Maybe the Chief will have all of us swabbing
decks and polishing and stuff?”
Cookie continued to glare at the two. “Nah,” Cookie’s face softened into a pensive
look. “Nothing official is up. Like I said, maybe I just felt like baking.”
“What are you baking?” asked Pat tentatively. “You sure put a lot of stuff into that
chocolate cake batter.”
“It’s a special recipe from
Pat looked at Cookie questioningly, a thought tickling at
the back of his mind. “And
the frosting?”
“Chocolate fudge with more toffee pieces and sliced
mandarin oranges.”
“Wow, that’s some recipe,” exclaimed Ski. “I better tell the guys to save a lot of room
for dessert.”
“Don’t forget about the cheesecake and cupcakes.” Patterson once again looked at Cookie
questioningly.
Cookie smiled to himself.
Patterson was quiet, but he didn’t miss much. He had caught the scent and seemed to be
following it in the right direction. “Cherry chocolate swirl.
Banana with blue coconut frosting.”
“Oh, man. I think I’m
gonna skip the meal and just eat the desserts!” Seeing the look Cookie shot at him, Ski
quickly added, “I love all your food, Cookie, but I can’t appreciate your
baking if my stomach is full. Right?”
Cookie crossed his arms over his chest, then, after a long
moment, he nodded. “Now, if you’ve
finished bothering me, I need to get the pans into the ovens.”
“We’re going, Cookie.
It’s almost watch time, anyway.
Just wait until the guys hear about this! Thanks.”
Ski looked across the table at his friend, who wasn’t there.
Patterson had moved over to the calendar near the bulletin
board. He smiled sadly. So much had happened in the past year.
He understood why Cookie had baked those particular
desserts.
The chocolate cake was Mrs. Morton’s very special occasion
cake. He’d heard the Commander
describing it to Angie Hamilton at the Christmas party. The cheesecake was Chief Curly Jones
favourite and the cupcakes had been the highlight of little Harriman Evans
christening party.
While the Admiral would announce a minute of silence later
in memory of the crew lost when Seaview sank off
He met Cookie’s eyes and nodded once. “Yah, Cookie.
Thank-you.
I know they’ll appreciate it.”
He knew Cookie knew whom he meant.
~ ~
~ ~ ~
~
Author’s
Comments:
Angie has
had several last names, but I liked
I made up the ingredient
combination, so have no idea if it will work.
The “secret” ingredient is zucchini, which makes a wonderfully moist
cake. One of these days I might try substituting
these ingredients into a cake.