Free Family Reunion by Mercedes Keyes Page A

man, thin as a rail, was tossing sand where he could.
    Rory came to a skidding halt at the bottom of the gang plank trying to catch his breath and steady himself for his false story. Manny happened to look in his direction spotting him immediately as he was bent over bracing himself on his knees gasping for air. With the lift of his brow, Manny reached into his suit pocket withdrawing his gold pocket watch, clicking it open to read the time.
    Rory groaned in despair as they made eye contact. Rory took one last deep breath then straightened up and headed up the gang plank to board the ship, easing carefully around the sandman.
    "Sir, Mister ...I know what you're thinking...but I can explain... my mother ...um...she had me doing some odd jobs for her, and my homework, I had a whole lot of homework to make up for lessons I missed. Really Mister, it won't happen again, I promise." Manny's eyes clearly said without a word that he found that a weak excuse.
    "This is your first and only, of course you know this decreases your pay for the week, perhaps it would be better if I moved you to six o'clock so your mother can have you for her needs a little longer?"
    "No sir! That won't be necessary five o'clock is fine, really!" Rory eagerly promised looking at Mike with a puzzled expression, and then back to Manny. His presence eased Manny's tension as he smiled and introduced the two.
    "Rory, this is my son Michael Webster, Mike, meet Rory. I've hired him as my cabin boy; he'll be working on the Princess for me." Mike stared at Rory a moment before responding to the introduction. The boy looked so familiar to him, he'd seen him somewhere before but couldn't place where.
    "Hello, and welcome aboard." Mike shook his hand. Rory smiled despite the funny feeling in his stomach, unaware that it was something akin to jealousy. Manny went on with the introductions, "This man here is Leon, he's the one who will be training you, giving you instructions and answering any questions you might have.

Whatever he tells you to do, you are to do, no questions asked. He is my second mate when I choose to sail, and he is also captain in my absence, any questions?"
    Manny inspected his reaction closely to see if he had any problem with his supervisor being a Negro. Rory had a look of shock, not because he would have a Negro over him, but because he couldn't believe a Black man would or could be allowed to hold such a position.
    "You have a problem with that Rory?"
    Rory pulled his eyes from Leon to Manny shaking his head. "No sir mister! No problem at all, nice to meet you sir." He nodded to Leon, who smiled with surprise at the youth's respectful response. Surely this couldn't be the same Rowdy Rory, the docks infamous trouble maker.
    "Glad to have you among us Rory, how about we go to the Princess so I can begin showing you your duties." He said, leading the way down the gangplank with Mike and Manny behind. On the way, Leon explained what some of his duties would be before they got there.
    "You know what?” Mike began, “I've seen that boy somewhere before, I'd swear it, I just don't know where."
    "Here I thought it was just me seeing things, hearing you say it, I know I'm not crazy. You’re right, you have seen him before."
    "Where?"
    "Your grandmother, Royal Sun Webster. Same coloring, hair and eyes, same smile, expressions and her features. The boy gives me the chills sometimes when I look at him; he's so much like her."
    Mike shook his head thinking of the portrait of Royal back at the cabin. "You're right. You think he's maybe related to her or her family in some way? Maybe she had a brother or a sister here in America you didn't know about ...or... the result of someone in her family wandering."
    Manny looked at his son and grinned. "Son, with this family, you never can tell."
    "Is that the reason you hired him? After all, my Esteban would be your cabin boy, and I can't see that he needs the job, his clothes say money."
    "He has problems son that