I stepped out on my deck and stared out at the sea. I blinked back tears as I thought of the life that awaited me. The sun glared down and reflected the colors of the sunset into the ocean. It was a beautiful sight, but even it's shear glory wasn't enough to cheer me up. Everything was happening too quickly. First my mother died, and then my father told me about his new 'job' in America. It was almost too much to take!

"Selesta," my father quietly walked into my room. "You need to get ready. We're leaving tomorrow morning."

'Of course, Father.' I thought in my head, acting as if I hadn't heard him. 'I'll just pack my bags and act as if I want to be on a pirate ship.'

"Selesta, did you hear me?" He said, somehow knowing I was ignoring him on purpose.

"Father, I just can't believe you would sign onto a pirate ship and force me to go along with you." I said no more and continued to watch the sun setting lower in the sky.

"There was nothing more to do. I couldn't continue as a mercant sailor, you know it didn't provide for us. It was the only job I could take with my qualifications, and I couldn't leave you behind. Now, my mind is made, and I do believe I told you to pack."

There was no arguing after that. Besides, what good would it do. His mind was made up.

I slowly walked over to my dresser. I dug through it trying to find a few things. My comfortable dress, a hat, and a pair of leather shoes that I used to use for my dance class. I guess there will be no more of that. I threw it all into my bag, and walked over to my bed. I pulled back the covers and laid down. Staring at the ceiling, just searching threw my head a way to get out of this fate. When I realized that there was no way out, I lost it. I began to cry, and I didn't stop until I was asleep dreaming of the worst.

I awoke in the morning with a tear stained face. I wasn't surprised though, considering I had cried last night for about an hour before I fell aleep. I quietly got out of bed an pulled on and old dress. I walked down the hall as silently as possible, and I looked into my father's room. He was still asleep and I was glad, for two reasons. Yesterday had been very stressful, for both of us and I wasn't quite sure if I could face him yet. I was also glad, because for as long as I could remember, we were extremely competitive about being the first one ready, and I wasn't about to let my two year winning streak go down.

I continued my walk down the hall and stepped into the bathroom. I quickly washed my face, and brushed my long, brown hair and finished by pulling it back, out of my face.

'I wonder what it will be like on a ship.' I began to think. I had never actually step foot on a boat of any kind, though I new a lot because of my father's previous profession. 'I might actually like being on a ship. No, Selesta, no!' I stopped myself. 'To like being on a pirate ship, no, thats not you, thats not proper, thats not...' My train of thought was interrupted my the sound of my father waking up. I dashed down the hall with my hair brush clutched in my hand. I tossed it into my bag, and threw the bag over my shoulder. I then walked down the hall and stepped into his room.

"A pirate you are!" I laughed. But the sentance was far to true, and he truely looked like one. Especially since he had slept in his clothes.

"You beat me again." He compained, and he probably made a mental note to wake up earlier everyday on the ship. "Here, Selesta. I meant to give you these last night, but..." He stopped and handed me a pair of boots. "To keep the water off your feet." He explained. I sat down on the ground a pulled on the boots. They fit perfectly and were very easy to walk in.

"Thank you, father." I said standing up. He leaned down beside his bed, and grabbed his sword. He attached the sheath to his belt, and he swung hiw bag onto his shoulder.

"Lets go." He said. We stepped out the door and I took a glance behind at my home.

'Good-bye,' I thought. 'I'll miss you.' And that was the last time I thought about England.