Chapter 1: Confusion

I am the daughter of William and Elizabeth Turner and I am 15. My full name is Jaclyn but everybody calls me Jackie or Jack. We, Mother, Father and I, live in the country, not too far away from the village. Actually we live on a hill, from which I can look at the sea, and watch the sunset. On our farm we raise chickens and cows. Boring life, no excitement. Every night my father tells me stories about everything from wild horses that live in England to the mermaids that live in the South seas. Lately I have been hearing more pirate stories. My favorite story is the one about the two pirates that love each other, but she is of high class, and he works in a small shop in the center of town.

In our little cottage, my room is above my parents. Often I will lie still at night and listen to them talk. When they are asleep, I listen to the sounds of the country, the cricket songs, and the sounds of the farm.

One night I heard my mother say with worry, "Jack's in port."

What! That makes no sense. I am above you, I have no idea what that means.

"Well we can't go into to town for a few days." Father replied. His voice thick worry and mild panic.

What and earth are you people talking about?

"You don't think he will come looking for us do you? I mean, after all, it has been a long time since we saw him." Mother was a little panicky too.

He? I am a girl after all.

"I can't be certain, but he might." Trying to comfort Mother like always.

Again he. Well, they aren't talking about me but what other Jack can there be? I'm the only Jack that I know to be in your lives.

"We will just have to hope for the best, I suppose."

"Yes. Let's not worry about this too much. How bad would it be if Jack knew about her?"

There was silence.

"Fine we won't do that." Father said. Mother must have stared him down.

I decided that I would go to town tomorrow and see who this Jack was that had my mother so worried that she couldn't sleep. I never heard her breathing become even and easy. Well, I fell asleep before she did. She must have though.

I snuck out of the house early in the morning, after quickly milking the cow and packing an old pair of father's old clothes including a pair of pants and a shirt, I set out for the village. I got to the crowded, loud and familiar streets of the village. The smell of the sea and freshly baked bread hit me like they always do. I am always so used to the smell of the farm.

They had said something about a ship. The dock was the obvious place to look. The smell had never been so strong in my nose. I saw a large ship with luminous black sails in the harbor. I made my way to the ship, but someone stopped me. It was my friend Adam.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" He asked.

"I can't explain right now."

"Try"

"I can't. but I'll tell you later."

"Fine. Can I help you somehow?"

I stood and thought for a couple moments. "Yes, you can."

Ten minutes later I walked on board the ship dressed as a boy I had gone to Adam's to change and got another set of clothes from him. As I walked on board I heard people say something about a Captain Jack. I decided to lay low for a while and try to figure out who this Jack was.

After awhile I figured the coast was clear, I went on deck in an old hat I found of my fathers. I wanted to hide my long brown hair under something, instead of cut it off. Then I went to talk to the captain. Captain Jack Sparrow. I had never heard of him. I walked up to him.

"Excuse me, Captain?" I said in a boyish voice the best one I could come up with.

"What do ye want?" he replied in a guff and annoyed tone.

"I would like to join your crew." He whirled around and looked at me and gave me a weird look, as if he had seen me before.

"Do I know ye?" he asked very confused

"Um…No, I don't think so."

"Oh…well… Welcome aboard me ship, The Black Pearl. What do ye know how to use?"

"What?"

"What weapon do ye know how to use? Can ye use a sword?"

"No."

"Pistol?"

"No."

"Any weapon at all?"

"No sir. I grew up on a farm. No need."

"Ah, well, you will need to learn. we have a crew that would enjoy figting a little kid. You will be in charge of scrubbing the deck kid." he turned his back to me and begain to walk up th the helm of the ship. He turned back "Oh and welcome aboard the Black Pearl!"