Ch. 23: Più Maria
Chapter 23: Più Maria Maria and I had scheduled another cleaning session for 10 the next morning. Promptly at 10, miniature Maria knocked and called out “Captain! I’m here!” I was up, fed & ready for Maria. “Come aboard. Want some coffee?” “That would be nice” she replied, somewhat apprehensively. I got her a cup and we settled on the port side settee. She was fidgeting and obviously nervous. “Maria, you seem uncomfortable. Have I done something wrong?” “Oh, No, Captain. You’ve done nothing wrong. Just the opposite. What we’ve done the last couple of days, well, it had been such a long time, it woke me up, made things come alive. So much alive that I, uh, well … um … I’m so ashamed ….” “It’s OK, Maria. Don’t be ashamed. Just spit it …