Ladle Polish Duty

I seized the hem of a crisp cotton dish towel and marched straight across the granite countertop! Right ahead stood a towering, mirror-bright stainless steel ladle leaning against a heavy ceramic crock. It had a tiny dried water droplet right on its belly—an unacceptable blemish on our ship's finest galley gear! I threw my whole soft weight behind the cloth, scrubbing in furious, eager circles until—squeak!—the smudge vanished completely. When I leaned in close, the curved scoop beamed my wide grin right back at me, upside down and shining! First mate duty accomplished!