"Watch yourself," Commander Lennox said as he entered the conning tower.
"It's pretty greasy in here."
They made their way to the captain's cabin, which was the size of a small closet. Lennox worked the combination of the safe and exchanged envelope "2" in it for an identical envelope handed him by the admiral's aide.
"Can I lock it?" Lennox asked.
"You said "two documents'?"
"You can lock it," the admiral's aide said, and, when Lennox had closed the safe and twirled the dial, handed him a second envelope.
Lennox opened it and looked at it incredulously.
MR. AND MRS. H. FREDERICK DENNISON
request THE honor OF THE presence OF
It. Gmvrwider fdurn K. lewwx" US/
at cocktails AND dinner 5:30/3.m, Fabfwuy, 15, 7943 411 ocean drive, waikiki
"What the hell is this?" Lennox blurted.
"Beautiful place," the admiral's aide said.
"Mr. Dennison owns most of the movie theaters in Hawaii. And some other things, like maybe half of downtown Honolulu."
"Well, would you please express my regrets to Mr. Dennison?" Lennox said.
"I have other plans."
"The Admiral thought you might," the admiral's aide said.
"That's why he sent me to deliver the invitation. It is the Admiral's desire, Commander, that you accept Mr. Dennison's invitation."
"I'm sailing at 0600," Lennox said.
"The Admiral is aware of that, Commander," the aide said.
"He's going to be there?" Lennox asked.
"Oh, yes," the admiral's aide said.
"The Dennisons really know how to throw a party. Ever been to a luau, Commander? I mean a real one?"
"Oh, what the hell!" Lennox said.
"But why me?"
"The Dennisons like to do what they can for the fleet," the admiral's aide said.
"I don't suppose you've got whites, do you?"
"No, I don't," Lennox said.
"Pity," the admiral's aide said.
"You about ready to go?"