Christmas in the Caribbean

Chapter 4

"A very fine impromptu feast you provided Mrs. Turner, absolutely delicious." Mr. Klaas said with a smile at Elizabeth as he pushed his chair back from the table.

"Thank you." Elizabeth said, and even at this late hour and although she had started to feel like yawning half way through the meal she found his smile quite engaging and returning it double fold.

"Captain Sparrow assured me you would be more than glad to give us lodging for the night, if you would be so kind as to show me to my room I would like to turn in, I am a bit fatigued." Mr. Klaas said with another irresistible smile her way.

Elizabeth was so becharmed she forgot to give Jack a lecture about extending William and her hospitality to people they didn't know.

"Of course Mr. Klaas….."

He interrupted with a short laugh that seemed to resonate from deep inside him, "There is no need for such formality, you may call me by my first name, please call me Sinter."

"Well Sinter," she said and was surprised it didn't sound strange calling this man she had only known a few hours by his first name, in fact his name rolled off her lips as if she had known him for years, "If you will follow me."

Jack had been watching the exchange between the two, and as they exited the room he raised both index fingers up in front of him and leaned over towards William, "I'm havin a thought here young William," then paused as he saw William was sitting there with a goofy smile on his face as he watched the two leave, and wasn't paying the least bit of attention to him. "Oye there William." He said rather loudly in Will's ear and still didn't get a response. Giving a little pouty frown he poked William in the chest a couple of times with his finger and in a pouty tone said, "Not nice ta be ignorin a person when they'd be in the process of tryin ta impart a bit of relevant observation that may have been made by that very same person William."

William briefly glanced in Jack's direction with a questioning look, and then back at the door with that goofy smile back on his face, "What's that Jack?"

Jack rocked back away from William and crossed his arms over his chest, and with an extremely intensified pout in expression and tone said, "If yer not gonna give me the whole of yer attention then I'm not gonna tell ya."

William forced himself to give Jack his full attention, "Alright Jack, what is this observation?"

With a glittering smile now that he had Will's undivided attention he leaned forward once more and wiggled his fingers around in William's face said, "I'm thinkin here that Mr. Sinter Klaas may be a bit of a strange character."

"Well that's rather like the pot calling the kettle black isn't it Jack?" William retorted with a grin.

Jack jerked his head back a bit in surprise causing his beads and trinkets to clatter together before he caught himself. In a bit of an offended tone he replied, "No need ta be impertinent William."

Will raised his hands in an apologizing motion, although he hadn't wiped the grin totally off his face yet, "I'm sorry Jack, do go on."

Jack continued to pout, "I'm not sure as I'm in the mood ta be divulgin any relevantly significant observation on the matter that I have happened ta come up with on me onsies if yer gonna toss 'em off for flotsam and jetsam afore ya ever hear 'em."

William did his best to put a serious expression on his face and tone in his voice, "I said I was sorry." Jack was still giving him a rather pouty look. Then with a bit of inspiration, and knowing Jack as he did he added, "You might as well tell me, you know you want to."

Jack immediately brightened and his hands began moving about at random as he began, "Very well then young William, I shall expound, propound, and in fact provide an exposition on me theories and conceptions in regard ta a certain Mr. Sinter Klaas. Have ya noted how anyone in his immediate presence becomes most chiliasticly chirrupy when he's around?" he gave William a raised eyebrow before going on, "Why I'd almost bet me swag and shiny he could, if indeed the opportunity was ta be placed afore him, bring a smile ta that overly stiff, stuffy, and bewigged Commodore Norrington….well perhaps I've overstated me case in makin that particular statement, but ya get me meaning."

"Maybe he's just a jolly fellow and brings out the jolly side of those around him Jack." Will replied.

"Ya'd be a bit more than familiarly acquainted with me crew would ya not William?" Jack answered.

"Yes, at least most of them." Will answered not sure if Jack was changing the subject.

"Have ya ever during yer acquaintancing with the same found them ta be the least bit jolly, or even muster more 'n a smile at the most celebratory of occasions such as the procurement of rum or wenches or any other manner of joviality?"

"Well no not really." William replied.

Holding his index finger up he said, "Well there ya have it."

Completely puzzled William said, "There I have what Jack?"

Jack flicked Will in the side of the head with his finger, "Tell me something William……do ya use that particular appendage for anything sides holdin up that enormous hat with the enormous feather that ya find so pleasin ta be wearin sometimes, cause I'm really feelin here, after I just explained this to ya, that all evidence is to the contrary when it comes ta that mate, savvy?"

"You didn't explain anything Jack." William said a bit defensively.

"I clearly did William."

"You clearly did not."

"Did!"

"Didn't!"

"Did!"

"Didn't!"

"Oh for the love of…..can't I leave you two alone for a few minutes without everything going to pot?" Elizabeth said with exasperation as she came back and found them childishly bickering with each other.

They both gave her a sheepish look but continued to argue under their breath.

"Did"

"Didn't"

"Did"

"That is quite enough!" Elizabeth snapped.

To Be Continued

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