Friendship

The Friendship Sven and I were best friends sailed on the same ship together. he as a third officer and I as a cook. We were both interested in reading, cinema and politics, and we liked go dancing when our ship docked. One night in Kingston, Jamaica, we met two girls at a beach cafe, I liked my girl there was an easy repartee between us and we laughed a lot. Back onboard Sven said my the girl was not suitable for me, I smiled, thought it a joke. Next day was Sunday Sven went ashore after breakfast, going to the beach, he said, I had to stay onboard and cook dinner. He came back in the evening, when I was ready to go ashore and meet my new girlfriend; Sven said he was very tired and wanted to stay onboard for the night. When I met my girl at the cafe, she appeared startled looked around and behind me but said nothing; told she had been to the beach all day and was quite exhausted, the easy talk between us was gone and the silence was awkward, so I wordlessly just got up and left. Back onboard, Sven sat in the mess-hall drinking coffee and reading, he looked up said halloo but continued to read; In my darkened room I looked out, full moon and the lights of Jamaica looked alluring; I also saw Sven go ashore again and it was well after midnight.