Reception was warm for my previous stories. This is a full-length novel about Paxton, a young man who signs up for the Merchant Marine and spends most of his time "in the barrel". The main theme is, as always, a man with very little downstairs who attracts the attention of the big boys. Enjoy! I will add this in installments.
The Able Seaman
Button Boy
Paxton Smalls grew up in New Orleans. As a youngster, he spent a good deal of his time at the waterfront. His favorite pastime was riding the free Ferry Boat to Algiers and back. The hustle and bustle of the mercantile trade excited him. He counted and classified boats to while away the time until his mother was finished with one of his many uncles. It was on the waterfront that he fell in love. His first love was the Mississippi River, then came the Gulf of Mexico, and then every sea and ocean he could dream of. Paxton wanted to be a sailor.
Due to the nature of his mother’s line of business, Paxton never met his daddy, and never would. His mother told him that he was dashingly handsome, but was never going to marry a girl. “It was one in a thousand he would ever put her in a family way. It just wasn’t physically possible. I was just lucky, I guess.” Paxton didn’t know what this meant until senior year when he joined the varsity football team and had to take showers with his classmates for the first time.
Until Paxton’s first locker room shower, he had no idea anything was amiss down there. He sat down to pee. He never worried about it.. But the other seniors saw his little problem right away. In a moment of horror, he discovered that he had only the tiniest fraction of what the other guys had. He ran from the showers, not even waiting for a towel, the whole room filled with taunts and jeers. He dressed in a bathroom stall, sniffing back tears. The names rang in his ears: Teeny Peenie, Inchworm, Button Boy...the names stung.
Paxton went home to tell his mother about his deformity, but she had an uncle in the room. He had to go cry at the waterfront. He was ashamed and angry. He would never be a normal man. He drowned in shame, deciding never to discuss it with his mother. He was dying to ask how his dad got her pregnant, so he could do the same, but the shame and self loathing were far more powerful than his curiosity. He wondered why she would choose a man who so obviously shouldn’t be making babies as the one to father her child. But she had hinted it was a work-related accident and not by choice.
Paxton sought refuge in the comfort of the waterfront. Longshoremen and sailors took his mind off his shame, but the sadness returned in waves.
With his head between his knees, Paxton’s tears hit the planks and tumble into the Mississippi. When he looked up, he saw a dozen sailors walking in a huddle. He was in their path. When he scrambled to his feet, he hit an oil slick. He fell hard, legs in the air. A young sailor who smelled like rum and cigars caught his arm and helped him to his feet. Paxton noticed the man wore a green carnation tattoo on his wrist. The other sailors whistled and made catcalls.
“Why they shoutin’ like that?”, he asked.
The sailor grinned. “You never put your legs in the air around merchant marines. Go on, jailbait. We’ll just watch you to make sure you can walk okay.” More whistles. Paxton was confused. In school, he only ever heard guys make that sound to flirt with pretty girls. He whirled around.
“I ain’t no pretty girl!” He shouted at the whole dozen.
A sailor cried out, “Any port in a storm!” The words were mean, but his smile was genuine. They meant him no harm.
It was shaping up to be the worst day of his life. The man with the green carnation came close. He wasn’t drunk - that rum smell was spice cologne. He lifted Paxton’s chin and their eyes met. Paxton saw the whole ocean was in those blue eyes. He was overcome with a strange desire that drew his eyes downward to below the sailor’s belt. He was sure the serpentine bulge was a trick of the fabric. Nobody was that size down there. He lifted his eyes again.
“Kid, don’t let them bother you none. We just know when we see one of our own.”
“A sailor?” Paxton was excited.
The man nodded. “Yeah, that’s it, a sailor.” He chuckled. “What’s your name, kid?”
“Paxton, sir.”
“Paxton, when you’re ready to join the fleet of merchant marines, we’ll welcome you with open arms.”
The boy gave the sailor a big hug, which brought on more jeers and catcalls. Paxton didn’t care. He was in love with the sea. He felt movement in the man’s pants, like he had a live boa in there. He stole a second glance and gasped. He touched it briefly and drew in his breath. “Is that…?”
The man lowered his head and grinned. “That’s my Albatross.” Paxton swooned. He had almost nothing, and this sailor had the share of three men or more. The heavily gifted sailor patted the boy’s bottom and sent him on his way. The touch of his hand was gentle but firm. It made Paxton yearn to be on the open sea with these rough sailors.
Paxton was angry at God that he could play such cruel tricks with men’s anatomy, giving so little to some, and too much to others. He let it go. He was in the clouds and didn’t know exactly why.
It was the worst day turned into the best. And not one but twelve sailors called him one of their own. He whistled as he walked home, oblivious to the heads that turned as he passed.
Paxton had another six months of school left. Impatient, he stopped into the US Merchant Marine recruiting office. Dick Williams, the officer in charge, gave the boy a great big smile.
“Paxton,” he said, “you signing up?”
Paxton had seen Dick for most of his life. He often rode the ferry to Algiers. Paxton knew just about everybody on that ferry.
“Yes, sir.”
“No need for sir. You know me.”
“Yes, Mr. Williams.”
The recruiter looked him up and down. “How old are you? Fifteen?”
“No sir, I’m eighteen. Gonna graduate in six months.”
“Well, we can take you right now, but hadn’t you oughta get your diploma first?”
Paxton thought about it. “I guess so.”
“Of course so. You’ll have a lot more freedom to forge your path in life with that diploma. What if the Merchant Marines don’t suit you?”
“But sir, I know I’m a sailor.”
“I’ve known you for years, kid. I’m not going to have your mother come after me with a billy club for yanking you out of high school. Hold on and be patient. Besides, if you ever want to hold a rank, you’ll need that diploma so you can go to the academy.”
Paxton agreed. Mr. Wilson watched the boy’s plump bottom wiggle as he walked out of the recruitment center. He blew a long wolf whistle once the kid was out of earshot. He muttered to himself, “He’s gonna be real busy on that boat.”
Paxton spent the remaining months until graduation studying textbooks about sailing, flags, maritime laws, terminology, and anything else he could find. He let his mother know about the plans; she was upset for herself, but happy he had found his calling. “Not every man figures out who he’s gonna be. You can see those lost souls on Poydras Street, sleeping against the sides of the buildings. If you choose a life at sea, I pray you will never be amongst them.”
“Thanks, Ma.” He kissed her cheek.
She struggled with the next bit. “Honey, you don’t know it yet, but you’re special.”
“Special? How so?”
She studied her nails. “Your daddy, he came to me because he was afraid he couldn’t please a lady or have children. It turned out he didn’t want a baby, and a lady couldn’t please him none either. He wasn’t the marrying kind. I got a hunch you’re like your daddy; you’re not going to be happy with a lady.”
Paxton frowned. “I don’t follow you.” Did having a baby matter? He wasn’t sure he wanted one.
She smiled. “You’ll figure it out on the open seas. The thing is, you need to know that I love you no matter who you become. So be who you are. Please just remember that. Don’t fear me none, I love you.”
Paxton was deeply confused. He had no idea what she was trying to tell him. He found out soon enough.
The Able Seaman
Button Boy
Paxton Smalls grew up in New Orleans. As a youngster, he spent a good deal of his time at the waterfront. His favorite pastime was riding the free Ferry Boat to Algiers and back. The hustle and bustle of the mercantile trade excited him. He counted and classified boats to while away the time until his mother was finished with one of his many uncles. It was on the waterfront that he fell in love. His first love was the Mississippi River, then came the Gulf of Mexico, and then every sea and ocean he could dream of. Paxton wanted to be a sailor.
Due to the nature of his mother’s line of business, Paxton never met his daddy, and never would. His mother told him that he was dashingly handsome, but was never going to marry a girl. “It was one in a thousand he would ever put her in a family way. It just wasn’t physically possible. I was just lucky, I guess.” Paxton didn’t know what this meant until senior year when he joined the varsity football team and had to take showers with his classmates for the first time.
Until Paxton’s first locker room shower, he had no idea anything was amiss down there. He sat down to pee. He never worried about it.. But the other seniors saw his little problem right away. In a moment of horror, he discovered that he had only the tiniest fraction of what the other guys had. He ran from the showers, not even waiting for a towel, the whole room filled with taunts and jeers. He dressed in a bathroom stall, sniffing back tears. The names rang in his ears: Teeny Peenie, Inchworm, Button Boy...the names stung.
Paxton went home to tell his mother about his deformity, but she had an uncle in the room. He had to go cry at the waterfront. He was ashamed and angry. He would never be a normal man. He drowned in shame, deciding never to discuss it with his mother. He was dying to ask how his dad got her pregnant, so he could do the same, but the shame and self loathing were far more powerful than his curiosity. He wondered why she would choose a man who so obviously shouldn’t be making babies as the one to father her child. But she had hinted it was a work-related accident and not by choice.
Paxton sought refuge in the comfort of the waterfront. Longshoremen and sailors took his mind off his shame, but the sadness returned in waves.
With his head between his knees, Paxton’s tears hit the planks and tumble into the Mississippi. When he looked up, he saw a dozen sailors walking in a huddle. He was in their path. When he scrambled to his feet, he hit an oil slick. He fell hard, legs in the air. A young sailor who smelled like rum and cigars caught his arm and helped him to his feet. Paxton noticed the man wore a green carnation tattoo on his wrist. The other sailors whistled and made catcalls.
“Why they shoutin’ like that?”, he asked.
The sailor grinned. “You never put your legs in the air around merchant marines. Go on, jailbait. We’ll just watch you to make sure you can walk okay.” More whistles. Paxton was confused. In school, he only ever heard guys make that sound to flirt with pretty girls. He whirled around.
“I ain’t no pretty girl!” He shouted at the whole dozen.
A sailor cried out, “Any port in a storm!” The words were mean, but his smile was genuine. They meant him no harm.
It was shaping up to be the worst day of his life. The man with the green carnation came close. He wasn’t drunk - that rum smell was spice cologne. He lifted Paxton’s chin and their eyes met. Paxton saw the whole ocean was in those blue eyes. He was overcome with a strange desire that drew his eyes downward to below the sailor’s belt. He was sure the serpentine bulge was a trick of the fabric. Nobody was that size down there. He lifted his eyes again.
“Kid, don’t let them bother you none. We just know when we see one of our own.”
“A sailor?” Paxton was excited.
The man nodded. “Yeah, that’s it, a sailor.” He chuckled. “What’s your name, kid?”
“Paxton, sir.”
“Paxton, when you’re ready to join the fleet of merchant marines, we’ll welcome you with open arms.”
The boy gave the sailor a big hug, which brought on more jeers and catcalls. Paxton didn’t care. He was in love with the sea. He felt movement in the man’s pants, like he had a live boa in there. He stole a second glance and gasped. He touched it briefly and drew in his breath. “Is that…?”
The man lowered his head and grinned. “That’s my Albatross.” Paxton swooned. He had almost nothing, and this sailor had the share of three men or more. The heavily gifted sailor patted the boy’s bottom and sent him on his way. The touch of his hand was gentle but firm. It made Paxton yearn to be on the open sea with these rough sailors.
Paxton was angry at God that he could play such cruel tricks with men’s anatomy, giving so little to some, and too much to others. He let it go. He was in the clouds and didn’t know exactly why.
It was the worst day turned into the best. And not one but twelve sailors called him one of their own. He whistled as he walked home, oblivious to the heads that turned as he passed.
Paxton had another six months of school left. Impatient, he stopped into the US Merchant Marine recruiting office. Dick Williams, the officer in charge, gave the boy a great big smile.
“Paxton,” he said, “you signing up?”
Paxton had seen Dick for most of his life. He often rode the ferry to Algiers. Paxton knew just about everybody on that ferry.
“Yes, sir.”
“No need for sir. You know me.”
“Yes, Mr. Williams.”
The recruiter looked him up and down. “How old are you? Fifteen?”
“No sir, I’m eighteen. Gonna graduate in six months.”
“Well, we can take you right now, but hadn’t you oughta get your diploma first?”
Paxton thought about it. “I guess so.”
“Of course so. You’ll have a lot more freedom to forge your path in life with that diploma. What if the Merchant Marines don’t suit you?”
“But sir, I know I’m a sailor.”
“I’ve known you for years, kid. I’m not going to have your mother come after me with a billy club for yanking you out of high school. Hold on and be patient. Besides, if you ever want to hold a rank, you’ll need that diploma so you can go to the academy.”
Paxton agreed. Mr. Wilson watched the boy’s plump bottom wiggle as he walked out of the recruitment center. He blew a long wolf whistle once the kid was out of earshot. He muttered to himself, “He’s gonna be real busy on that boat.”
Paxton spent the remaining months until graduation studying textbooks about sailing, flags, maritime laws, terminology, and anything else he could find. He let his mother know about the plans; she was upset for herself, but happy he had found his calling. “Not every man figures out who he’s gonna be. You can see those lost souls on Poydras Street, sleeping against the sides of the buildings. If you choose a life at sea, I pray you will never be amongst them.”
“Thanks, Ma.” He kissed her cheek.
She struggled with the next bit. “Honey, you don’t know it yet, but you’re special.”
“Special? How so?”
She studied her nails. “Your daddy, he came to me because he was afraid he couldn’t please a lady or have children. It turned out he didn’t want a baby, and a lady couldn’t please him none either. He wasn’t the marrying kind. I got a hunch you’re like your daddy; you’re not going to be happy with a lady.”
Paxton frowned. “I don’t follow you.” Did having a baby matter? He wasn’t sure he wanted one.
She smiled. “You’ll figure it out on the open seas. The thing is, you need to know that I love you no matter who you become. So be who you are. Please just remember that. Don’t fear me none, I love you.”
Paxton was deeply confused. He had no idea what she was trying to tell him. He found out soon enough.