Happy Birthday, Sweet Fifteen (13 June)

"I'll teach you whenever you want it, A'right? Well.. when I'm free to do it of course, but other than that, there ain't nothing stopping me!" He smiled brightly.

"An' It's up to you. If you want it painted I'll give yer and you can paint it the way you think is best. And if not...." He shrugged and smiled.

"I'd like that," he said, and chuckled. "I've give her to you, so it's your choice whether I paint her up or not. I don't mind either way - it'd only take a smidgen of paint to do it, her bein' so small."

"Well, Say what. I will keep her like this for now. .and when I've earned my keep on this ship, and be accepted as a Terpsy, then I'll ask you to paint her. Sort of like.... umm.. earnin' my stripes,'cept they won't be stripes."

He smiled brightly. "And you decide when it's ready to be painted, an' you jus' tell me ter give her to you then. Deal?"

Thompson chuckled. "All right, then. Sounds like a good idea to me. Reckon you ain't so far from bein' a proper Terpsy though."

"Well. I'll let you decide. An'.. when you think I'm ready, you jus' tell me ter give it ter be painted, or you can even take it. I trus' you rummagin' through my stuff.... really." He grinned. " Today is.. a real fine day, you know?"

"I ain't goin' to go rummagin' through anyone's stuff - folks might get the wrong idea," Thompson replied peaceably. He leaned back against the carronade. "Aye, it's a real nice day. Glad you'm havin' a good birthday an' all."

"Oh, don't worry.. Though. I guess , you ought to ask first. Like I did. Jus' so I know it's going on or what not." He shrugged and gazed across from them, studying those few that he could see in that direction.

"It is rather peaceful now..nobody's arguin'...yet. Though, I don't think it would last, even without me bein' t' one who argues." He smiled sheepishly." Hmm,.. even t' lieutenants are ..havin' it fairly easy today.. wot' we see o' them.. weird, huh?"