When I first reported to my first duty station when I was in the Navy I was sent to find a bucket of steam and 50 feet of gig-line. This was just after morning muster mind you so it was around 0830. So off I went in search of a bucket of steam and 50 feet of gig-line.
I didn't show back up until 1530; a half hour before quitting time. My chief was ready to rip me a new asshole because I was gone all day. So I told the chief that I went to Radio, who sent me to administration, who sent me to the Bosun's locker, who sent me to engineering, who sent me to the ship across the pier, who sent me to another ship, and so on and so on and so on. Then with as much sincerity as I could muster I apologized to the chief for not being able to complete my task. The look on his face was priceless, the poor bastard was wracked with guilt thinking that I had walked all over Charleston Naval base looking for this stuff.
Months later we were deployed and one evening during watch a bunch of us were cutting up and they decided to pick on me. They went on and on for a few minuted about how I walked all over the damn base looking for a bucket of steam and and 50 feet of gig-line. I just smiled with the biggest dumb ass looking grin I could muster.
What those poor bastards didn't know was that I actually spent that fateful day not looking for buckets of steam of gig-line, but enjoying a leisurely breakfast at McDonalds, followed by a half dozen games or so of bowling, lunch, working out at the gym, and pricing new cars. I still smile to myself every time I think about that day.