It is just too adorable. Nate has a mini admirer who follows him around Treasure Cay like a little puppy dog. He's a 10 year-old Bahamian boy named David and this little man literally clings to Nathan. Everywhere Nate goes, David goes.
David came to Jackie O early in the morning. I was reading quietly on the top deck when I sensed someone staring at me. I looked up to see this adorable little black kid sitting on his sparkly purple bike near the port side of Jackie O. He asked me with a shy smile; ' 'sxcuse me Miss, is Nate here?'. I was slightly taken aback that the boy knew my husband's name but I said; 'Sure! Just hold on a second'. I called down into the cabin; 'Nate, there's someone here to see you.' David proceeded to allow himself to jump onto the boat (which is a huge no-no unless you're invited to come aboard by the Captain), and he sits himself down across from me on the top deck and just stares. I kinda thought to myself, maybe he's a beggar or wants us to give him food or something, so I smile politely, remove myself from the unusual situation, and go down into the cabin. Nate passes me on the way up and he gives me a gentle smile. I figure everything is okay. I decide to try to make our little guest feel welcome, so I climb back up with a plate of gingersnaps and offer a few cookies to our new friend. He looks at the cookies, looks at me, and proceeds to take the entire plate right out of my hands and eats every single cookie! There must have been at least fifteen gingersnaps on that plate! Nate and I give each other a silent look and I giggle. Nate goes on to explain to me that he met David the day before while he was fishing on the boardwalk. David nods his head in agreement but doesn't make eye contact with me. Maybe he's scared that I'll take the cookies away. For the remainder of the day, David is Nate's little cling-on. He rides his bike beside Nate, he walks wherever Nate goes, and when Nate tries to kindly say to David that 'My wife Kate and I are going to go and have dinner now' it takes a minute or two for David to register that we might want some time alone.
The next day, David brings his friend Jacob. The two of them ask me if Nate would go fishing with them. Somehow, I didn't ever think that I'd be playing the mother role on this trip, but I holler down to Nate; 'honey, are you free to come up and play with David and his friend?'. Nate comes up with a welcoming grin. He's so nice to the boys. He kindly explains to them that he has some work to do on the boat. They both understand with a knowing nod and then David asks; 'then can we borrow your fishin' rods Nate?'. Nate replies; 'yes you may' and David flashes his brilliant white teeth.
On Saturday, David is curious about an old camo coloured Military box that Nathan and I found on the beach the week before. Nate shows him how to open and close it, and explains to him that he can put items in the box, lock it up and put it in the water and the items won't get wet. David listens carefully with excited eyes. Nate tells him that the box was once used to store ammunition for guns in the military and I think that David's eyes might pop right out of his head. Nate sees the excitement on his face as well and asks David if he would like to keep the box for himself. David turns around and runs in the opposite direction leaving Nate standing there alone. Within a few moments, David brings a 'compadre' to help him haul the box back to wherever he keeps his special treasures.
David visits us everyday now. Today, I offered him a coke and he actually said 'thank you'. He comfortable and freely plops himself beside Nathan and sits unusually close to him while Nate reads or uses the computer or sands the teak on the boat. I think that the Abaco Admirer loves Nate about as much as anything and as long as we're still in Treasure Cay, I will have to share my husband with a 10 year-old Bahamian boy.
