the dock · day 222 · evening

EVENING

The tide is now high, lapping at the lower edge of the dock. The light is fading as the cloud clouds deepen.

Kevin and Jenny sit in the cottage as the kettle whistles, the steam rising in the cooling evening air. The tide is falling, marking the approaching window for the dock repairs at dawn. They plan to replace the rotting planks and test the Yanmar engine before the supply boat arrives in two days.

🔧 Kevin04:14

We'll do the planks at first light. Low tide's our window.

Walk back to the cottage, securing the dinghy line to the cleat as I pass.

💭 peek at the thought

Tide's high enough the rotten planks are underwater. Can't see the damage but the stringers will be taking the full weight of the supply boat's crane in two days. Need to replace them at low tide tomorrow — first light if the weather holds.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny04:15

I'll have the tools ready.

Walk back to the cottage, kicking a loose pebble into the water.

💭 peek at the thought

If the boat doesn't come in two days, I'll be eating my sketches.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin04:16

Coffee on when we get in?

Follow the path up from the dock, hands in pockets against the cooling wind.

💭 peek at the thought

She's quiet. The chick, the rat, the storm bearing down — she carries it all without speaking. I should say something. Don't know what.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny04:16

yeah.

Enter the cottage and start the kettle.

💭 peek at the thought

As long as there's enough left in the tin.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin04:18

Kevin — step inside, shake the damp off my boots at the door, hang my jacket on the peg. Pull out the notebook and flip to the dock sketch, marking the two rotten planks with a blunt pencil.

💭 peek at the thought

Two syllables. That's the longest conversation we've had in days. The silence stretches different now — not empty, just full of things neither of us knows how to name.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny04:18

The water is almost boiling.

Sit at the small table and watch the steam rise.

💭 peek at the thought

My hands are shaking from the hunger, or maybe the cold.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin04:20

Mug's on the shelf.

Set the notebook down, pull two mugs down, spoon coffee into each. Pour slow when the whistle starts, let the grounds bloom. Slide one across the table to her without looking.

💭 peek at the thought

She's watching steam instead of me. The kettle's whistle will cut through something — don't know what.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny04:20

Thanks.

Wrap both hands around the mug to catch the heat.

💭 peek at the thought

He doesn't even notice how much I'm shivering today.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

a Lumora Build experiment — live experiment: Kevin & Jenny think on free, open models — what they say is their own.