Before They Were Pirates!
A/N: I decided to write this story cuz I got the encouragement from friends at a message board I go to (it's called everythingjohnny(dot)com, so this story is dedicated to all my friends at EJ.
Disclaimer: I have said this many times already in my other stories, but I will say it again to please the Disney Lawyers. I own NOTHING. lol. On with the story!
Alexander Sparrow worked for the East India Trading Company as a Captain with his own ship, The Bloody Delight. His son, Jonathan, had always loved the ocean. When Alexander was at home, and his wife, Margaret, was having problems getting Jonathan to sleep, Alexander would take him to the beach outside their home in the back yard. The sound of the waves breaking against the sandy shore would always calm Jonathan and he would quickly fall asleep in his father's arms.
As Jonathan, or Jack as his friend's called him, grew up, his love for the ocean grew stronger. The same could be said for his best friend, William, or Bill, Turner. Both boys were drawn to the call of the ocean; they were destined to be sailors. Jonathan made quite a few friends in school. He quickly became known as the class clown, always getting in trouble with his teachers. More often then not he would come home with bloody knuckles from where the teachers had hit him with a ruler or a bruised bottom after receiving a spanking in front of the entire class. Bill and Jack's fathers worked together. William Turner, Bill's father, was Alexander Sparrow's First Mate aboard his ship, The Bloody Delight.
When Jack was 11 his father started teaching him about sailing and cartography, or Map Making, and how to read maps and how to navigate. Bill, now 12 years old, had already been learning these things for a year from his father. Also both boys were learning about the science about what makes a ship move and how to increase the speed of a ship without decreasing the size of the vessel.
All too soon, according to Jack and Bill's mothers, they were of age to apply as cabin boys with the East India Trading Company. Alexander Sparrow and William Turner took their sons into the office of their employer, Sir Cutler Beckett. A man by the name of Mr. Mercer told them to wait in the lobby, and then he went into Beckett's office.
"Sir Beckett, Captain Sparrow and Mr. Turner are outside with their sons. They request a meeting with you, Sir." Mr. Mercer informed Beckett.
"Very well. Send them in Mr. Mercer."
Mr. Mercer went into the lobby. "Sir Beckett will see you now." Alexander, Jack, William and Bill entered Beckett's office and took a seat.
"What can I do for you gentlemen?"
"Our sons, Jack and Bill, come in search of employment as cabin boys for the East India Trading Company. Preferably on board The Bloody Delight, Sir. As their fathers, we would like to be the ones to teach them the ropes." Captain Sparrow explained.
"How old are you, lads?" Beckett asked Jack and Bill.
"I'm 12, Sir." Jack replied.
"And I'm 13, Sir." Bill replied.
"Well, I do believe you have need of a few cabin boys aboard The Bloody Delight, Captain Sparrow. Here are two standard agreements of employment. If you boys can sign at the bottom and Captain Sparrow if you can fill in the ship's name in the appropriate space within the agreement and sign it at the bottom on the line provided, agreeing that they will be your responsibility. Mr. Turner if you will also sign, as First Mate, taking responsibility as well."
Captain Sparrow put in the name of his ship on both agreements and then signed the bottom of each, as did William. Then each boy signed his own agreement of employment. Sir Beckett looked over the agreements to ensure that they were filled out and signed correctly. Satisfied, Beckett said, "Welcome to the East India Trading Company, Lads. You will set sail as soon as Captain Sparrow receives his next assignment."
"Thank-you, Sir." Bill said, barely able to contain his excitement.
"This means so much to us, Sir! Thank-you!" Jack added, just as excited as Bill.
As soon as the four left the office, and began to head back to their homes, Jack and Bill cheered as they ran around, excited that they would be setting sail soon, going to places that they had never heard of. Both fathers looked on in amusement as their sons celebrated their new jobs.
A few days later, Jack's father received word that he was to set sail to the Caribbean with a shipment of a variety of bolts of cloth and pre made clothes as well as spices and other necessities. Then he was to go to Singapore and pick up exotic spices and clothes, and bolts of cloth, as well anything else Captain Sparrow saw fit to buy that the East India Trading Company would have interest in, and then bring it all back to England.
When Jack and Bill found out where they were going they were so excited. They had always heard stories from their fathers about these places but now they could see for themselves, and return home with their own stories.
Jack and Bill packed up a bag of clothes and other necessities they would need on board. Before they were done packing their mothers had come in and given them a journal so that they could write down all their adventures.
The day had come when it was time to set sail. Mrs. Turner and Mrs. Sparrow were at the docks in tears as their husbands, and now their sons, prepared to board the ship.
Jack's POV
"Oh. I can't believe this day has come so quickly! My little boy, going out to sea…" Mrs. Sparrow sobbed, as she smothered her son with a hug.
"Mum!" Jack hissed, "Let go! None of the other sailors have their mums hugging them! Mum! You're embarrassing me! Let go!" Jack whispered, pushing away from his mother.
"All right, all right, it's just that…" Mrs. Sparrow sighed, wiping the tears from her cheeks, "Be safe, please? I know you are excited about this but the ocean can be a dangerous thing. You do what you are told, and you listen to your father. He's the Captain, so just because he is your father do not expect special treatment from him, all right?"
"I know, I know. I promise, mum, I'll follow orders and stay safe." Jack reassured his mother.
Bill's POV
"William… my dear sweet baby boy… Oh, I can't believe you're about to go clear to the Caribbean!" Mrs. Turner sobbed, "You stay safe and you better follow orders. Respect your father and his rank on the ship, same as Captain Sparrow. Just because you're the first mate's son, and you're friends with the Captain's son doesn't mean you'll get special treatment. You'll have to work just as hard as everybody else. You understand?"
"I know mum! Father already gave me this speech." Bill said as he rolled his eyes.
"Don't you roll your eyes at your mum!" Mrs. Turner scolded. "Just because you are employed now doesn't mean that you can disrespect your mum!"
"Yes ma'am. I'm sorry mum." Bill apologized.
Jack's POV
Jack's mother had turned to her husband, embracing him in a tight hug. "Every time you leave, a part of me leaves with you. I will miss you terribly. And with Jack going with, I'll be all alone… That reminds me, you had better return home with our son in one piece. I don't want to see my son with any limbs or digits missing, or anything else gone missing either!" Mrs. Sparrow warned. "If he is harmed in any way, I swear I'll…" She sighed, "Just… keep him safe. Please?"
"Of course I will, dear. Don't worry so much Margaret. He will be fine, I promise." Captain Sparrow laughed.
"I love you, Alex. I am going to miss you so much. I already miss you, and you haven't even left port yet."
"I love you too, my dear. You can spend your time with Mrs. Turner. I'm sure she will want the company as much as you will. You will be keeping each other so busy, that we will be back before you know it!"
Bill's POV
Bill's mother was saying good-bye to her husband while he and Jack were getting ready to board the ship. They both were making sure they had everything they needed. Jack's mother had called him over to say one last good-bye. His mother did the same.
"Oh… William, I will miss you son. Remember, be safe and do as your superiors tell you to do, that includes your father and Captain Sparrow, you hear me? No back-talk like you do here at home. If you don't do as you're told somebody could get hurt, you don't want that on your hands." Mrs. Turner sighed. "I love you. I'm sorry I keep lecturing, it's just that I'm scared."
"It's okay mum. I know what I need to do and if I don't, I'll learn. Don't be scared, Dad and Captain Sparrow will keep an eye on us. You know that."
Jack's POV
"I love you Jonathan. Please, be safe and do what you're told and if you don't know how to do something don't be afraid to ask for help. I'm sure everybody expects you to ask for help, seeing as you're new on board. It's better to ask for help and do things right, than not ask and do something wrong. You don't want to do something wrong and have somebody hurt because of that." Mrs. Sparrow lectured.
"I know Mum. Don't worry so much. I love you too."
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to lecture… I'm just worried is all."
"Jonathan, William, Come on. Time to board!" Captain Sparrow said as he walked up the gangplank.
"I gotta go Mum! Love you!" Jack said as he gave his mother a peck on the cheek the turned to catch up to his father.
Bill's POV
"Bye Mum! I love you!" Bill said as he gave his mum a peck on the cheek and then ran up the gangplank, running into Jack in his excitement.
"Hey! Bill! Watch what your doing!"
"Sorry mate!"
Both boys stood next to the railing as the gangplank was hauled on board and stowed away. Captain Sparrow assumed his position at the helm and William Turner started shouting orders for the crew to do. As the ship pulled out from the dock Mrs. Sparrow and Mrs. Turner waved good-bye to their sons. Jack and Bill waved back at their mothers. Both mothers stayed at the docks watching The Bloody Delight sail out of the harbor. Once the ship was far out to sea, both women walked arm in arm down the docks back to the Sparrow residence, in attempt to keep each other's minds off their sons and husbands being gone out to sea.
As the ship moved out to sea, the ship began its wild, chaotic dance, rocking back and forth, with the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Jack and Bill could hardly keep their feet under them. Every time the ship bucked under them, they would fall down landing in odd, and mostly painful, ways. Both fathers looked on, watching as their sons held onto each other for support as they stood up from their most recent fall. Both fathers knew that this was a skill that their sons had to learn on their own. Gaining your sea legs wasn't a skill easily taught. All the old sea dogs, couldn't help but laugh, remembering back to when it was their first time on a ship, experiencing the same thing as the two boys in front of them.
"Jack… they're laughing at us. We look stupid! They all probably have never fallen on a ship before!" Bill whispered, embarrassed, to his friend. Jack shook his head, not knowing what to do.
"Hey… Why are all of you laughing at us? It's not funny… it's actually rather painful!" Jack asked the men around them.
"Oh, we's ain't laughin' at ye, we's laughin' at our own memories. Every new sailor's gotta acquire 'is sea legs, same as you boys."
"Well, I think a little help would be appreciated! You know, a few tips on how to stay upright, would be nice. The sooner we learn how to stay standing, the sooner we can be of use." Jack replied.
"Okay, okay. Go hang on t'the railing lads, fer support. Then jus' stay standin' there. She's got a rhythm; ye jus' gotta find it an' follow it. Jus' imagine yer dancin' wit' a pretty lass back home. When she goes one way, ye go the opposite. Ye gotta counter act her movements."
Jack and Bill stumbled their way over to the railing and held on, gripping the railing with both hands, facing out to sea.
"Good, now jus' try 'n' sway wit' her. Try 'n' find her rhythm." The sailor instructed. "By the way, me name's Connor."
Both boys began to try and move with the ship as they held onto the railing. Soon Jack had found the rhythm of the ship and let one hand go from the railing, to test himself, and his footing. He didn't fall, so he let go completely from the railing. Again, he didn't fall down.
"Hey! How did you do that?" Bill asked.
"I don't know… I just… I listened to her. I let her tell me how to move." Jack said, not really knowing how to explain it.
"Ye'll get it Turner! Don't ye worry!" Somebody encouraged.
"Sparrow, try 'n' walk! That be the real test mate!" Connor said.
"Okay… I think I can do that." Jack said as he began to walk. Soon Jack began to loose his footing, but Jack was determined to prove himself to the other sailors and remain standing. As he felt himself start to fall he threw his arms out in front of him trying to balance himself. Soon, with odd arm and hand movements and some fancy footwork, he had found a matching rhythm to the ship. Jack laughed and cheered for himself.
"HA! I've got it now!" Jack cheered, "HEY, DAD! LOOK! I CAN WALK!" Jack laughed as he shouted up to his father at the helm.
"Good Job Son, But On Board, It's CAPTAIN Sparrow!" His father shouted back to his son.
"Sorry Captain!" Jack shouted back. "Hey, Bill, come on. It's easy! You can do it!"
"I don't know… I'll try, but I am NOT flailing my arms about like you! You look stupid!" Bill said.
"I may look stupid but at least I can walk!" Jack teased Bill. Bill let go of the railing and took a few steps. It seemed like he figured out how to walk. "Hey! I got…" Bill fell before he could finish his sentence. "Well, I thought I had it." Bill sighed as he stood up. He took a few more steps then fell down again.
"Somebody needs t'pull that boy up by 'is bootstraps." Somebody said. As Bill stood back up, somebody else had noticed that his bootstrap on his left boot was broken.
"No wonder the lad is fallin' over himself. He keeps fallin' on his bootstrap. It's broken." The sailor said. "I can fix that for ye, bootstrap. I used t'be a cobbler."
Bill looked down and noticed that his bootstrap was broken and he had been stepping on it and tripping himself. "No wonder. If you could fix it that would be greatly appreciated." Bill said.
"Alright, hand over yer boot an' I'll fix it right quick." The sailor told him. Bill did as he was told and in a few minutes the sailor handed him back his fixed boot. "There ye go Bootstrap."
"Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude, but my name is Bill Turner."
"Aye, 'Bootstrap' Bill Turner." The sailor said, as if that was enough of an explanation.
"Hey Bootstrap, you got your very own nickname!" Jack laughed.
"Shut up Jack!" Bill said as he rolled his eyes.
"Make me… Bootstrap!" Jack teased. Bill got up and started chasing Jack around the ship. Jack started running, his arms flailing out in front of him, realizing that his friend had found his footing.
"Well, Captain, I see our two newest crew members have finally acquired their sea legs. Didn't take them long."
"No, all it took was my son to tease your son, and off they went, your son giving chase." Captain Sparrow laughed. "Go break it up before they hurt each other. They need to know that there will be order on board. There's a time and place for fun and games but now is not the time."
"Aye Sir." William said, and then went down to the quarterdeck, grabbing a hold of his son and Jack as they ran by him. "That's enough boys. There's a time and place for running around like chickens with your heads cut off but now is not the time. Gentleman, back to work, you know your tasks." William ordered.
Jack's POV
"Jack, I want you to go up to the Crow's Nest and take watch. Oh and take this with you." William said as he tossed him a telescope. "You'll need that up there. Look out for land nearing us or any ships that look like pirates, or anybody that's not flying British colors. Pirates tend to sail without any colors raised, although sometimes they will fly false colors. Now get going."
"Aye, Aye Sir." Jack said as he saluted his friend's father. Jack then walked over to the ratlines, looking at them with a confused look on his face. "Uh… Sir. Which one goes up to the Crow's Nest?" Jack asked William.
"Connor! Show Mr. Sparrow his way up to the Crow's Nest and help him with anything else he may need for the remainder of the voyage."
"Aye, Aye Sir." Connor replied as he walked over to Jack and showed him how to get up to the Crow's Nest. Connor followed behind Jack just in case the boy fell, or found that he didn't have the strength to make it up. Connor was surprised that Jack had the strength to climb up the ratlines without really ever stopping, or loosing his grip. Soon they were both in the Crow's Nest and settled in a somewhat comfortable position.
Bill's POV
"Bill, I want you to scrub the decks."
"Aye Sir. Where are the supplies to do that Sir?"
"Mr. Baker, Please show Bill where to get the supplies for scrubbing the deck and help him with anything else he may need for the remainder of the voyage."
"Aye, Aye Sir." Mr. Baker replied. "Hey Bootstrap, me name's Robert but ye can call me Rob or Bert, but never Robbie, ye got that?"
"Yeah, so… Rob, where are the deck scrubbing supplies?"
"Below decks, I'll show ye where." Robert said.
Jack's POV
"Sparrow, ye climbed up here better than I thought ye would. Didn't think ye had the strength t'do it, yer so scrawny."
"I may look scrawny, but I'm stronger than I look. It's Bill that's the weakling. I can beat him up easy." Jack laughed.
"Beat him up? I thought the two of ye were friends?"
"Oh yeah, but you know sometimes we play around and try to beat each other up." Jack explained. "I always win. I get my strength from climbing trees back home."
"Oh… yeah I guess that'd do it… by the way, d'ye always talk so proper?" Connor asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Have ye not noticed? T'be honest, you an' Turner kinda sound snobbish, talkin' all proper an' the like."
"Blame our mothers. They insist we speak proper English. To be honest it is quite annoying."
"Yer on a ship full o' men an' yer mother ain't here, talk how ye like, savvy?"
"Savvy?"
"It means understand."
"Yeah, okay, I savvy." Jack said. He then lifted the telescope up to his eye and scanned the horizon for ships, knowing that land will not be anywhere close yet. As Jack was scanning the horizon, he saw something strange, he couldn't tell if it was a ship or something else.
"Oy, take a look at this, it's… uh… in a… uh… a that-a-way direction." Jack said, pointing to the southeast, not familiar with his bearings yet.
"Ye mean southeastern?" Connor asked.
"Yeah, that's what I mean." Jack agreed. "I think I need a compass." Jack laughed.
"I think yer right." Connor laughed too, taking the telescope looking towards the horizon where Jack had pointed to, trying to find what Jack had seen. Just about when Connor was going to tell Jack that he saw nothing, he saw what Jack had seen and laughed.
"Jack…" Connor laughed, "Jack…" He laughed again.
"What, What's so funny?"
"The thing ye saw… was a bird… guess what kinda bird it was…" Connor laughed.
"I don't know, a bird?"
"It was…" Connor laughed again, "It was a sparrow!" This time both Jack and Connor laughed causing several people below wondering why the two men were laughing.
"Hey! Connor!" Captain Sparrow shouted up to the Crow's Nest, "What's so funny?"
"Mr. Sparrow…" Connor said, trying to stop laughing, "Mr. Sparrow spotted a sparrow on the horizon Sir!" Connor shouted down to his Captain. Captain Sparrow, and other crewmen, all laughed at Connor's announcement.
"No more bird watching! Carry on with your real duties, gentlemen!" Captain Sparrow shouted up, after he had regained his composure.
"Aye, Aye Sir!" Connor and Jack shouted down.
Bill's POV (same time as Jack's POV)
Robert took Bill below decks into a storage closet and handed him the bucket on a rope and the scrub brush. Robert then led Bill up on the top deck again.
"Jus' throw the bucket over the side o' the ship, but make sure ye got a hold of the rope. Best way t'do that so ye don't gotta worry 'bout it is tie it off on t'the railing. Lemme teach ye two good knot t'use so it don't fall off. The first is called a bowline; use that one t'tie the rope t'the railing. The other is called an Anchor Hitch or the Fisherman's Bend. Ye tie that one t'the bucket handle." Robert showed Bill how to tie a bowline, then untied it and handed the rope to Bill.
"You try. A good way t'remember how t'tie it, I know this might sound dumb but it works, is the rabbit comes outta its hole, runs 'round the tree an' back down its hole again." After a few tries, Bill finally tied a bowline.
"Good, now here's the Anchor Hitch." Robert untied the rope from the bucket handle, and then showed Bill how to retied the rope using an Anchor Hitch. Robert untied the rope again and handed it to Bill. "Tie the rope back on the handle usin' the Anchor Hitch."
"All right. I think I can remember how to do that." Bill began to tie the Anchor Hitch but soon realized he did it wrong. Bill removed the rope and then looked at the handle and the rope, imagining how he saw Robert do it.
"Oh, okay, I think I know what I did wrong…" Bill began to tie the Anchor Hitch again but this time he tied it a knot. Robert inspected the knot, making sure Bill tied the Anchor Hitch correctly.
"Good Job. Ye successfully tied an Anchor Hitch, now figure out how t'tie the bowline to the railing. I'll tell ye it's not how ye think it should be." Robert laughed. Bill looked at him strangely and walked over to the railing. Bill started by looping the rope around the railing and then making his 'rabbit hole.' Bill then took the end of the rope and pulled it up thru the 'rabbit hole' then looped it around the other end (the tree), then back into the 'rabbit hole.' When Bill went to tighten the rope it all fell apart.
"What… but… What did I do wrong?" Bill said confused.
"Figure it out yerself, yer a smart lad. I told ye, it's not how ye think it should be." Bill tried to tie the bowline to the railing, but, again, it fell apart.
"I don't get it… what am I doing wrong?"
"I'll give ye another hint. Tie it first without puttin' it on the railing, an' look at the finished product. Then apply what ye see to the railing." Robert hinted. Bill tied the bowline without it being on the railing and studied the knot for a few minutes, and then it dawned on him.
"Oh! I get it!" Bill laughed, "I was looping the wrong part onto the railing!"
"There ya go… now go do it right." Robert instructed. Bill made his 'rabbit hole' then looped the loose end around the railing before pulling it up thru the 'rabbit hole.' Bill then looped it around other end (the tree), and then pulled it back down thru the 'rabbit hole.' Bill tightened the knot, finally attaching the bucket to the railing. Robert inspected the knot, and saw that he tied the bowline correctly, with enough rope left over to toss into the sea.
"Good Job, Bootstrap. Now all ye gotta do is throw the bucket over board an' then pull it back up with the sea water in it. Jus' make sure yer scrub brush ain't in the bucket, otherwise ye'll loose yer scrub brush! I did that once… had t'buy a new scrub brush wif' my own money. I didn't get reimbursed either 'cause it was my fault it needed replacing."
"Thank you for your help." Bill said.
"Don't think nothin' of it. It's my job, but glad t'help anyways. Now get t'work lad." Robert ordered.
"Aye sir." Bill said. He threw the bucket over board, and then hauled it up, full of seawater, then started scrubbing the deck.
So there's the first chapter. So now you all know how Jack got his crazy arm/hand movements and his crazy walking style. And you know now how Bootstrap Bill got his nickname! At least according to me.
If you want to see an animated picture of the knots I was talking about (the bowline and the Anchor Hitch) here's a link to it.
Bowline
http(colon,slash,slash)www(dot)tollesburysc(dot)co(dot)uk(slash)Knots(slash)Bowline(dot)htm
Anchor Hitch
http(colon,slash,slash)www(dot)tollesburysc(dot)co(dot)uk(slash)Knots(slash)Anchor(underscore)hitch(dot)htm
Always… Take What Ye Can… Give Nothin' Back!
Mrs. Capt. Jack Sparrows