An Old Man's Tale -- Whatever It Takes

There’s an old sailing man trapped in his granddaughter’s house now too old to conquer the seas, too frail to even master the stairs, shut in this ranch-style house in Billfordstown, a burden more ignored then revered.
He spends his days running the dishwasher, no matter what it contains, over and over again and sits on the linoleum huddled like bait, his ear pressed firmly against the brown metal front of the pulsating machine, listening.
His eyes flutter as the sound brings him in contact with the water, the engine aboard riding the crests.
He drools as he sits, cries when its done, and with brown spotted hands he starts the process again, hour upon hour, day upon day, until the man of the house enters the kitchen and yells.
“Do you know how much money you’re costing me old man.”
And the once proud captain crawls back to his room, where he remains, waiting for the next crack of dawn and the chance to ride the waves again.