Summary
Dooley, a sailor on shore leave, anticipates a respite from naval routine, only to find himself trapped in a domestic parody of ship life orchestrated by his well-meaning but misguided aunt and uncle. Their home, meticulously redecorated to resemble a vessel, becomes a stage for relentless 'navy-style' hospitality, complete with hornpipe-dancing waiters and a dangerously rocking dining table. Dooley’s brief escape from the sea quickly devolves into a series of escalating maritime-themed tortures, culminating in a disgustingly flavored meal and an unwanted boxing match. The promised solace of land turns into a nightmarish extension of his duties, leaving him so desperate for genuine change that the very thought of returning to his ship – and even the company of a marine – becomes a joyous prospect.
Synopsis
Dooley has shore leave. His uncle and aunt, wishing to make him feel at home, do everything the navy way. The house is decorated, the waiters do the hornpipe, the table rocks, the hammock overturns. Poor Dooley, who looked forward to a change from the ship, has a terrible time, particularly when kerosene from a ship's lantern gets in his food. The crowning disappointment occurs when he has to box a tough pugilist, and he returns to the ship so happy that he "could kiss a marine."
