After the captain slapped me on the butt, he went off and mingled with the others. Before I could say 'boo' we were dining, laughing, drinking and dancing.

It was the first time I allowed myself a drink. But only one.

I still stayed a bit apart, but not by choice. I just had a hard time approaching people; mingling was not a familiar word in my vocabulary.

So I sat at one of the small tables, smiling at everyone's antics. To my surprise, it wasn't long before I was approached. I was looking down at the blisters on my hands, which had broken and were stinging slightly. A shadow fell over me and I looked up.

"Alura"....Jaden said hesitantly. "May I sit down with you?"

I blinked, taken completely by surprise. "Of course you can, Jaden."

I leaned back slightly, looking at him. He was a very handsome man and I appreciated beauty in all its forms. Jaden was no exception. We started to talk, hesitantly at first, and then more openly. He asked me a lot of questions about myself and eventually got it out of me that I loved to play cards. He brightened. "Me, too!" he exclaimed. "Do you know how to play Uno?"

I shook my head in mystification. "Hold on..." he said, jumping up from the table and darting away. I watched him, wondering what he was up to. Then he was back, panting slightly. He plopped down in the chair, producing a deck of colorful cards. "This is Uno." He said, fanning the cards out on the table. "And I'm going to kick your butt."

I raised my left eyebrow. "Is that a challenge, Jaden? Because if it is, you're about to lose your shirt."

He laughed.

The game went fast and heavy and before I knew it, we had 3 more players, WB, Ruby, and Amy. We took turns trouncing each other, screeching in dismay at some points and hollering with glee at others.

Eventually, the game degenerated into complete silliness.

"I'll trade you three of those..." WB said, pointing at Amy's hand, which held 4 reverse cards, "....for 5 of any of these." She indicated her own hand, which held a variety of choice cards as well.

"I've got a better idea." Amy announced. "Let's trade "favors" for cards, instead.'

"No fair!" Jaden cried in mock irritation. "I'm outnumbered!"

"True.." I conceded. "So why don't we play....STRIP Uno?"

My suggestion was met with cat-calls and a great deal of enthusiasm.

Oh; and my earlier threat to Jaden about losing his shirt?

He did.