Coincidence - Alan May [5]
“Most have none, and in any case they all have to be trained together on the barquentine rig. That’s a three-masted boat with a square-rigged forward mast.”
“How many students are there on the ship?” Carol asked.
“The ship has a capacity of forty-nine, but we don’t usually have a full complement.”
“What is the ratio of boys to girls?”
This was from Melissa.
“The ratio fluctuates, but generally there are more boys.”
Melissa’s face brightened.
Craig hated to be the one to ask it, but someone had to. “How do you handle a problem with a student when you are so far from home?”
“It depends on the incident. Generally, problems are few, but disciplinary action ranges from cancellation of shore leave to being sent home for a week or so, and even, as a last resort, to being expelled from the program. Each of these has happened, although very seldom.”
After many more questions and answers from both sides, Kathleen asked Melissa’s parents to leave the room so she could speak directly to Melissa.
It was now Kathleen’s turn to ask the questions.
“Why are you thinking that you’d like to be part of the Blue Water Academy experience?” Kathleen’s warm manner had vanquished Melissa’s initial anxiety. She was finding it easy to follow her parents’ advice to be herself and answer the questions openly.
“It’s something out of the ordinary,” she said. “Sailing around the world and studying at the same time is a chance of a lifetime for anyone lucky enough to be selected. Seeing the world is something I’ve always dreamed of doing.”
For her part, Kathleen saw in Melissa something of herself at the same age: a bright and eager young woman whose enthusiasm and determination would get her through any rough patches. She turned to some practical issues—some questions that the academy required her to ask, even though she was confident that, in this case, they were not necessary.
“Have you ever been drunk or tried drugs?”
“No and no, although my parents let me have some wine with dinner on special occasions.”
“You know from the brochure that Blue Water Academy has a strict no-alcohol, no-drugs policy. What would you do if you observed a student who was impaired by either?”
“I’d probably help get them to bed so they’d be out of harm’s way. If I thought they were a danger to the ship or to anybody else, or even to themselves, I guess I’d report them to a teacher.”
“Do you consider yourself to be a loner or outgoing?”
“Oh, outgoing, definitely! I have a lot of good friends, and I don’t really dislike anyone.”
“Do you get along well with your parents and brother?”
“Yeah, I do. I think I have an unusually good relationship with both my parents—especially when I hear some of my friends talk about theirs. And don’t tell him I said so, but I really love my little brother. I used to boss him around horribly when we were little. He’s only a year and half younger, so I had to show him who was in charge.”
“Sounds just like my big sister! It must go with the territory. If you are accepted into the program, you’ll be away from your family for an entire year. Do you think you can handle that?”
“Definitely.”
Melissa had one more question, although she was a little afraid of the answer she might get.
“How many people go through the process but aren’t accepted into the program?”
“About a third of those interviewed go no further,” Kathleen replied. “That could be either their decision or ours.”
It isn’t going to be my decision, Melissa thought. She just hoped with all her heart it wouldn’t be theirs either.
The next few days were hell. One day she knew she would be accepted—how could she not be? The next she was equally sure she’d been rejected in the first cut. Her friends proved to be a good support network. They were prepared to share in the excitement of her acceptance but also assured her they’d be there for her if she was rejected—not that that would ever happen, they hastened to add. Stephanie told her that if they kept on such an emotional roller coaster much longer they’d all get whiplash.
Arriving home each day, Melissa’s first question