Alrighty, so this story starts out a little slow. This first chapter sort of sets you up to speed, and then things get good the next chapter. Uhm, yeah, sure. Somewhat.
In truth, I based it a little on the Bloody Jack books, which I recommend for anyone reading this. And uhm, nice comments would be lovely.No flames, por favor?
Disclaimer: I own no Pirates, nor do I own and L.A. Meyers writing (Jacky Faber stories and the characters names andsuch)
Wait? Do you need a disclaimer for names? after all WHATS IN A NAME! Oh, whatever.
How did I get where I am today? Well, It's not a short story really, but I'll tell what I remember. I guess I should start with where I grew up, what I look like, my age, my height, maybe my date of birth? I can't say I know. I've never written an account of my life before. But as the days go on, leading me to my fate, I feel its time. I don't write these words with a heavy heart, mind you, because I signed up for this, and I should have known. I've lived a good life, but I've not yet resigned myself to this 'fate'.
I was born in London, May 1784, my parents being James and Nicolette Hilton. My father was a sailor of the Royal Navy, so he wasn't around too much growing up. When I was 10 years old, my mother gave birth to my younger sister Lily. A few months after the fact, we received word of my father's demise. His ship had gotten caught in a hurricane, and there were no survivors. It didn't take long for my mother to get sick, whether it was from pure heartbreak, or she was truly sick, I can't say. But God rest her soul.
People came to take my little sister and I away, but I refused to go…I remember that day like it was yesterday. That was the true start to it all.
"Mairead! They're coming!" I ran to the pounding at the door and pulled it open. Thomas Murray, our neighbor who was about 13 was standing there, muddier then the pigs themselves. He burst into the room and searched for Lily. "What are you to do?"
"What do you mean Thomas?" I was confused, and incredibly naïve. I walked over to Lily's crib and watched her sleep. The child had no idea of the sadness around her in this tiny house. "What am I to do about what?"
"The old biddy, Gretchen Higgins is coming with authorities for you and your sister. They're going to send you away to a school, and your sister to an orphanage. Unless, of course, there's a family that will want her. They'll separate you for sure."
"Thomas, how did you hear all this? Don't lie, I need the truth!" I grabbed his arm, so unsure of what to do. I was 10 years old, how was I to be mature? But I was, considering that at the time I'd been watching my sister alone for a little over a month. I couldn't believe that biddy would come so late; I had assumed we'd been safe.
"My mother sent me to run errands in town, and I heard it. They'll be here soon."
I sat down on a bench at our table. The same table that less then a year ago my father and mother joined me at. "Ok, Thomas, I have to go. I don't know where, but I'll run away. I can't go to some school, if I do, I'll never see her again. But you, take her to your mother and tell her. She might let you adopt her, she always respected my mother and father, I'm sure she'd help if she knew. But I can't ask you to take on me as well."
"Well, for thinking on your feet, Mairead, you're good. But you're going to just run away? I don't think it's so wise."
"What's your plan then?" Either my mind was playing tricks on me, or I heard the footsteps of Gretchen outside. I knew we didn't have time, but Thomas was right. Where would I run? I could read, that was about my only good attribute. But who knew? Maybe it would be enough. "Hurry, Thomas, take her out the back door." I ran to my room and threw some clothes into a bag, a book my father gave me from one of his trips, a shiv, and the small amount of money I had found in my mothers room.
I walked out and found Thomas holding Lily, I smiled sadly at them both. "Alright, I better go, and you better not waste your time. Take care Thomas, and when she's old enough, tell her I'll come back."
"I'm not going to like to her, Mah, you don't even know where you're going."
"True, I may be young, but I've been on my own for the past month. I know some."
I hadn't seen Thomas again for another 6 years. I had heard rumors that he'd been press ganged into joining the Royal Navy, and eventually turned pirate himself. After I left my home, my baby sister, and my childhood friend, I made my life. On the streets.
Poor as dirt, I found a gang of kids just like me, and I'd been right, my reading helped. I became a member of Fergle Loomis' gang, reading signs on shops for those who couldn't, and getting paid a pretty penny for it now and then. But my life changed, on my 15th birthday. Fergle and the gang managed to get me a dress for it, in hopes that I would go to the yearly New Years eve ball. Of course, that wasn't for a few months, so they planned on usuing those months to fix it up. According to my good lady friend Amy, they were hoping I'd get married off and live happy. For some reason I wasn't sure it worked that way.
"Mah, stand still! I've got to let it out a little more in the back." Amy Johnson snapped, as I fidgeted in my boots. I had gotten the dress a week ago, and already changes were bein' made. "Amy, I appreciate it and all, but don't we have time to alter it? Besides, these boots won't make me somethin' too fancy, ya know."
"We've already started saving for those, or we're just going to go raid Gorgy's cart later, and steal a pair." I looked at her, and she blushed. We were thieves, but only when we need to be. And orphans tend to be very needy.
Amy's father left his wife and kids behind, so Amy's own flesh and blood of a mother put her out on the streets, tellin' her she couldn't afford her no more. Poor Amy acts like she's thankful, but at least my mother was dead before she could throw me out. I doubt I would've grown up to make her proud. The way I see it, I'd be thrown out eventually. Every kid in the kip had a story, but we don't always share. We gotta remember that we're alive, and sometimes, that's enough. There's always hope.
Even last month, Jeannie got hired by a nice old man to tend to his mum. He said she was old, and he traveled too much to take care of her. So off Jeannie goes, off to her knew life. As tradition has it, anyone who comes out well is to return, and hopefully share their blessings. But Jeannie ain't been gone long enough to share anything. Not just yet.
"Look, Mah, maybe ye shouldn't go out in town like this. I mean, sure it's better then the pants, but what if ye ruin it? Fergle would kick ye outta the kip, fer sure!" Amy stood up and crossed her arms. I stepped off the bale of hay she had me standing on. "Amy, you worry too much. I'll be back later, so tell Damon and Haley and yourself I'll continue your lessons then." Eventually, Fergle came up with the idea of me teachin' the youngsters, and Amy, to read. Amy, Fergle, and myself were the oldest, therefore, we were in charge. Can't say that this is what people want to be in charge of. But, they're family, aren't they?
"Oh Mah!" She crossed her arms, and stomped her foot. I laughed at her pouty face, thinkin' that she was pretty even covered in all that dirt. If Fergle weren't so in love with that rich miss that lived on the hill, I'd think they'd marry. But we don't always think about the future. Let alone tomorrow. Not around here anyways.
"Goodbye,Miss Amy!" I called, as I stepped out from the temporary shack we built for the colder months, down by the bridge. I had saved up my own money, and decided that if Fergle was goin' to be so wise as to spend our money on my future, I'd spend my on their bellies.
Walkin' down the street in a dress was a different feeling. Ever since I left home, I'd been in pants only. Usually I wore a hat, so people didn't think of me as a girl, but today, the noticed my long red hair, and the fact that I was a girl. A clean lookin' one today, on account of the warm weather, and the river bein' nearby.
I got some stares too, from gentlemen, and I even surprised myself. Smilin' and prancin' down the streets like a fool, I hadn't even noticed I was bein' followed. Stupid, stupid Mairead. "You, there! Miss!" I stopped and turned, just in time to have two bloody red coats grab my arms. "Let go of me! You stupid blighters!" I kicked, but then I stopped, and walked with them. One thing Fergle has taught me, and that's to cooperate with the men dressed in red. He told me a story about a boy who didn't cooperate, and ended up dead. Another who got the noose. I just think about that rope tightenin' 'round my neck, and it's enough to get me to walk. A short walk, it was too, so not much thinkin' was goin' on in my head.
They stopped and presented me to a man in blue, who seemed quite important. "What's this, then?" He asked, looking down at me. He looked about 40, but it was hard to tell with the wig. Oh, by this time I was indeed in irons. Did I leave that out?
"We caught this one 'ere snooping around the shops. We think she's one of the kids that's been stealin' from Roberto's dress shop lately." Ah! So it is the dress, curses!
"What do you have to say, Miss?" The man in blue stared down at me.
"I didn't do nothin' sirs! Beggin' your pardon, I'm sorry!" Here I was grovelin' like a fool. But I'm only 15, far to young to be hung! But thinkin' that surely he'd see that is a fools errand.
"What's your name?" He seemed to smile, but then it disappeared. I stared down, hearin' once that makin' eye contact is insulting. "Mairead." I said, loudly.
"Surname?" He prodded.
"Hilton. Mairead Hilton." He seemed to be thinkin' something over, so I ignored the uncomfortable irons on my wrists and waited. This felt like judgment day. Maybe it was.
That's when my life made another big change. For someone who's lived so short a life, I've had allot of big changes. His name was Lieutenant Simons, and he took a great deal of pity on me, I found out later because of the death of his first daughter. Simons, or Nicholas Simons took me in right then and there. He told me later on, that something about my poor girl attempt at being wealthy reminded him of his other daughter. My "sister" Emilie. I hated him for doing it to me, because I'd rather be poor with the gang in the kip then adopted. But I realized something, that if I got well off, I could take care of the others. And after all, wasn't that why they bought me the dress?
Simons was very good to me, his wife, and their other daughter treated me well. I was informed that for a while they were looking to adopt, and I remembered Lily, wondering if she ever got well off. If she was even alive. Thinking of my good fortune, I told Lieutenant about my gang, so he allowed me to send some supplies. More then enough to make me sure I did the right thing by leaving them.
After a month with the Simons family, we set sail on a ship to Port Royal, where I would reside until my 18th birthday. While there, I was brought up to speed on a proper education, mostly letting it in one ear and out the other. I learned something about myself, and that was I would never be a lady. But boy, I was a good actress. And that's when I started making my own way in the world.
