Bad Machinery by John Allison for June 26, 2023

The digital time bomb always seems more threatening.

Mildred’s making a bid for being the one Calvin remembers as “intimidating” this time.

“‘You get a cup o’ that inside you, and you feel a different man altogether! Altogether different you feel! You can feel it goin’ round your veins like fire! That’ll get you back on the deck, that’ll put the feelin’ back in your fingers and toes. That’ll get the salt out o’ your beard, boy. Old salt won’t mix along o’ that, that’s too strong for him! Well, railwayman’s tea ain’t so strong as what that is, but it’s very near! There’s three kinds o’ tea worth drinking, trawlerman’s tea, sergeant major’s tea, and railwayman’s tea, and we’re havin’ railwayman’s tea tonight.’”

Mildred is really hostile towards Calvin! With all the time they’ve been together, I expected her to be more friendly.

The next time life presents me a setback, I must remember to express my anger and frustration by exclaiming “Oh, ALL-BRAN!”

Glad he repeated the punch line.

Because EVERYONE loves a ticking countdown clock!

Highly TRAINED, haha! Get it? Trained….

Oh, ALL-BRAN!

Oh All-Bran! Lol