"Skeptical, eh? Go on, ask me anything. I am
forbidden to be on any quiz or game show, and I have
to register with them when I enter the cities from
which they transmit."
"Yeah, right."'
"What, no questions?" he challenged, folding
his arms across his chest and pulling his shoulders up. I thought a moment. What he needs is someone
to wipe that egotistical smile off his lips. All right, he
asked for it, I thought. Daddy was always proud of my
knowledge of U.S. naval history.
"When was the first submarine used in U.S.
combat?"
He pulled his head back. "Interesting choice for
a challenge. It was in 1776, actually, Invented by
David Bushnell, a small, egg-shaped craft constructed
of wood and operated by one man who turned a
propeller. The science was quite innovative. They
submerged by admitting water and then surfaced by
forcing it out with a hand pump. Fulton picked up on
it and applied some of the principles to his Nautilus,"
he recited.
I guess my jaw had dropped so low flies or bees
could form a hive in my mouth.
"Grace," I heard Mommy call, and turned
toward our patio.
"Yes?"
"Dallas has to go. Come say goodbye." she
cried.
"Okay. I'll be right there." I turned back to
Augustus Brewster.