The Fish Fry

When he came home I was there to meet the Boat. It had been almost three months since I had seen him, with no communication except through the US Postal Service! This was many years before cell phones or any of the technology that we have this day and time. It was like honeymoon time again for awhile!

One of his shipmates Red Dog Holden got married soon after the Boat got back, and we attended the wedding and afterwards the reception which was held in the Preview Lounge on Duval Street.

I had never tasted Vodka before and Chuck thought I needed to try a Screwdriver and so I did. It didn’t taste like much except orange juice, and I kept drinking one after another. His pet name for me was Baby Love, and he cautioned me to slow down, but I just phoo phooed, him and said, “There’s nothing to it.”

He cautioned again and said, “Baby Love I’m telling you, you need to slow down it packs a wallop and hits you suddenly.” But I didn’t listen.

The entertainment for the evening was male strippers, another first for me. I thought I was having the greatest time of my life. I kept inviting people over to our cottage for a fish fry the next day as I was introduced to each one or each couple.

Chuck finally made me stop and decided it was time for us to leave. On the way home I got sick and had to barf. I opened the door of the car and hung my head out; he grabbed me with one hand and hung onto me to keep me from falling out and drove with the other.

He got the car stopped and pulled me back inside without injury. When we arrived home he managed to get me inside the house, he put me to bed and let me sleep it off as much as he thought I needed. And then woke me up.

We were having coffee, but food was the last thing on my mind. He asked, “What are you gonna feed all of those people that you invited over to dinner tonight?” My response was, “What the hell are you talking about?” My poor head was pounding, and I had zero recall!

He said, “Baby you kept inviting people over here for a fish fry last night. They all said they are coming, and you need to think about what you’re gonna feed them.” Most single John’s will always accept an invitation for a home cooked meal.

My first thought was he is joking, it would be so like him he loved to tease and pull pranks, but he convinced me he was being truthful, and not joking, and I thought my God what have I gotten myself into. I was so hung-over I felt as if I would have to get better to die, the only thing left for me to do was; honey just grin and bear it!

Yellowtail

I sent him to the fish market for ten pounds of Yellowtail fillets; a very popular fish in Key West that is a real delicacy; while he was gone I had an Alka Seltzer cocktail and then baked a Coconut Cake. 

Coconut Cake

I had enough on hand to make a gigantic green salad. I had no idea as to how many would show up. I put it in the fridge to chill and made a couple of gallons of iced tea and set it in to chill.

Tossed Salad

I mixed hushpuppy batter and covered it, and it went into the fridge. OMG my head, and I had another Alka Seltzer cocktail. 

The only thing left to do would be to make a big pot of cheese grits and fry the fish. I took a shower and changed into clean shorts and a blouse.

Cheese Grits

About mid- afternoon the guest began arriving, they brought booze and mixer and set up a bar on the huge coffee table in the living room. I had a drink and began to feel better. The count turned out to be fifteen including Chuck and me.

We had an apartment size gas stove, I was half way through frying the fish and hushpuppies and the power went off. This happened frequently in Key West. Rocky Byers came in to help me, he held the flashlight and tended one deep fryer while I finished the other. We set everything on the table and everyone served themselves and sat wherever they could find a place to sit.

Fried Fish

Hushpuppies

Our little cottage was bursting at the seams; we were so crowded in that small place! But the food was enjoyed by all. The party cranked up into high gear after dinner. 

One of the guys they called Boo Boo leaned over to put his cigarette out in the big ashtray that was in the center of the coffee table.

He leaned over very slowly and he did put the cigarette out, but kept leaning. He placed his hands on the far edge of the table trying to stop his fall, but his unbalanced momentum kept him going, he looked as though he was in slow motion. 

His feet left the floor and were raised up into the air and he was just suspended there on his hands and hanging onto the edge of the table.

Everyone was holding their breath in disbelief, totally mesmerized, afraid to move at first, it was a frozen moment.  A couple of the guys eventually moved, and quickly went over and took hold of his legs and slowly lowered him back down.

That table was covered with bottles of booze, glasses and mixers, also a bucket of ice, and the only thing that he turned over was a single shot glass. This wasn’t actually a sea story, but it was a very funny story and it was told and re-told many times!