What is happening? Where am I?
Oh yeah. I was hammered. That thought is extremely funny! Ha ha ha!
I don’t have time for this. There’s something I need to do! Something…on the tip of my thoughts.
But it is hilarious! Ha ha!
Focus! Where is my…center? This feels like a dream. Why is it so hard to think?
I can’t hear anything. I can’t see anything. Why?
Hell if I know. Who cares? Just go to sleep…
I can’t! It feels like I’m falling. I’m falling! That’s it! The mast! I gotta…
I should’ve hit the mast or the deck by now.
That’s odd. My senses aren’t working yet I can think. Very strange…
I gotta…what? Hold…on! Yes!
Too late. I’m falling. So tired. So sleepy.
No! I must fight sleep! I won’t give up! I won’t let go!
“Ben! Ben! Let the hammer go! I got it! Ben!”
Mike? Where are you?
“Geez! He’s got a deathgrip on that hammer. His knuckles are white!”
Rick?
“I got ya Ben. You can let go of the scaffold. Ben? Can you hear me?”
Yep. I hear you. Can you hear me? Where the hell are you?
“How are we gonna get him down?”
“First things first. Let’s wait for Doc before we try to move him, Rick.”
Um, guys? I’m right here. I can hear you.
“Good idea. I wonder when he’ll let go?”
“Ben! You can let go now! We have you!”
You don’t have to shout, Mike! I’m not deaf!
“Crap! His veins are really bulging out! What’s wrong with him?”
Nothin’ wrong with me, Rick. Except, I can’t see.
“Concussion maybe. Could be shock.”
Dammit Mike! I’m an operations specialist, not a doctor! Ha ha!
“Hey Ben. Let go of the hammer. Relax, we got you.”
I don’t feel anything. What’s that roaring noise?
“CONRAD! Open your eyes!”
Oh. Right. My eyes. My eyes!
Damn! It’s bright! I can see! Everything is out of focus though. That can’t be good. Ha ha ha!
“Ha ha ha!”
“Hey, welcome back Ben! What’s so funny?” Rick said, with a perplexed and oh so serious look on his face.
“Ha ha! Sorry. You look so…ha ha!”
“Dammmm. I want what he’s taking!” Rick said, smiling.
What was so funny? I feel drunk. But I didn’t have any beers or nothin’. Must be a concussion, I guess.
“There’s Doc. Larson! Get Doc a harness and hardhat!” Mike yelled out.
No problem Mike!” Larson shouted.
“Can’t you bring him down here?!” Doc pleaded.
“I think you should check him out before we move him!” Shouted Mike.
“F*ck! I hate climbing!” Doc whined.
“Man, he has an attitude,” I said “Ha ha ha! I’m okay. Really. I can move,” I said.
“Then let go of the hammer,” Rick said.
“Sure. What do you need it for?” I asked.
“I just wanted to try two hammers at once. Like John Henry,” Rick said.
“That was a great story. Sad though,” I said, letting the hammer go.
“How do you feel, Ben?” Mike asked.
“I feel fine,” I said, rotating my head.
“Don’t do that! You might have a fracture!” Mike shouted.
“Too late. Look, Mike. I feel a bit tipsy but nothin’s broken,” I said, rubbing my neck.
“I really think Doc should check you out first. Stay put!” Mike said sternly.
That was so funny! “Ha ha! Aye aye, Cap’n Bligh!” I said, knowing I could get away with it.
“Yo! Can you get him down now?” Doc called up.
“Get your ass up here Doc! Now!” Mike shouted.
“Alright! Sh*t! I’m coming!” Doc yelled.
“I can’t believe he used to work with Marines,” Mike said, chuckling.
We all laughed at that.
“How long was I out?” I asked.
“A few minutes, but you never let go of the scaffolding or hammer, so you weren’t completely out,” Mike said.
“It was weird if you ask me,” said Rick, matter-of-factly.
Somehow that was funny. Rick could deliver a great line.
“It felt weird. Definitely a twilight zone moment,” I said.
It seemed a lot longer than a few minutes. Time didn’t exist at the time.
Something to ponder…could I ever go back to that dreamlike state under good circumstances?
Did I really want to? I don’t know.
I shook my head quickly to fight another sudden urge to sleep. I felt like I had been up for two days.
“Make room.”
Doc was here. Mike inched over behind me.
I looked at Doc’s name. Wittner. He was a first class. HM1 Wittner.
“I’m HM1 Wittner. How are you feeling?” Doc asked.
“I’m okay. I’m just sleepy,” I said, fighting to keep my eyes open.
“Well, don’t go to sleep. You have to stay awake,” Doc said, as he made his way to me.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because you probably have a concussion,” Doc said, opening his med kit.
“Do you have any cuts? Does your head hurt?” Doc asked, grabbing an instrument.
“No cuts that I know of. My head feels like it’s bruised. My headache is coming back,” I said, wincing.
Whoa! Damn it! Why didn’t he warn me?
“Anything else hurt,” Doc asked, shining a stabbing light in my eyes.
“Yeah. I got a stabbing pain in the back of my eyes from that torture device your using,” I ssid, wincing even more.
“Uh huh,” said Doc, still looking at my eyes. “Yeah, you got a concussion. How many fingers am I holding up?”
“Hell if I know. You just blinded me,” I said, irritated.
“Who’s the President?” Doc asked, ignoring my snarky response.
“Ronald Reagan,” I said. “I’m Ben Conrad, I’m on the Duluth at Todd Shipyards, today is Thursday, it’s 1980,” I said, trying to speed up the examination.
“How many fingers am I holding up?” Doc asked again.
He’s persistant, I’ll give him that.
“Three fingers,” I said, sighing.
“Yep. You got a mild concussion. Are you dizzy or lightheaded?” He asked.
“Nope,” I lied. I just wanted this over with.
“Do you think you can climb down?” Doc asked.
“No problem,” I said.
“Alright, I’m going to climb down first, and you follow me. Mike, you follow Conrad,
understood?” Doc asked.
“Aye,” I said, trying to keep a straight face.
The euphoria was gone and replaced by a pounding headache. I was getting nauseated, and I was thirsty. If I could get a drink of water I would be okay.
“I’m hooking his harness to mine,” Mike said, unfastening my safety line and hooking it to his harness.
“Good thinking,” Doc said. “Now let’s go. Slowly.”
I followed Doc down, without a problem. My arms were burning by the time we got to the deck.
Mike unhooked me, and helped me get out of the harness.
“Follow me to sickbay. I’m going to observe you for a few hours,” Doc said. “Just to be on the safe side.”
Oh crap! No naps for awhile.
“Please tell me you don’t listen to polka,” I said.
“No way! Why would you think that?” Doc asked with a befuddled look.
“Long story,” I said, relieved.
“Mike, Rick, thanks,” I said, grateful that they were there.
“Hey! You would do the same for me,” Rick said, smiling.
“Let’s not make a habit of it,” Mike said, patting me on the shoulder. “Hurry up and get better. We still have a lot of work to do,” Mike continued, smiling.
“Just as long as Garner isn’t above me,” I said, following Doc.
