I sighed and looked around again for a more in-depth view. The bed wasn't that bad, just not what she was used to. There was mirror, covered in a layer of dust and cobwebs in the corner and a chair next to it. I looked and saw a wood chest at the end of the bed. I walked and opened it. Not much in here, a night shift that looks like it has been here for about sixty years that was in surprisingly good condition, but I still wouldn't dare to wear it lest the smell of it infuse itself onto my skin, an old leather bound book, and a very old locket.
The locket intrigued me the most. It was made of silver with gold linings. It was heart that was slightly tarnished. It seemed to have an inscription on the back but it is way too hard to read. I placed it around my neck liking the new weight around my shoulders. I then changed from the dress I was wearing into the so called "Piratin' clothes", feeling much disdain in putting on the breeches, and climbed under the thin blanket provided and blew out the whale oil lamp. The darkness surrounded me and soon I was covered in slumber.
* * * * * * * * *
Janice White whipped her blonde hair over her shoulder as she exited the Black Pearl into the new world. She looked around for her grandmother who had welcomed her to the newly found country. She found her near the edge of the crowd waving her wrinkled hand in the air. Janice pushed her way to her grandmother and gave her a huge hug.
"Careful, love" Her grandmother said though she hugged just as much back "My fragile old lady bones can't handle to much"
"Oh, Grandmother! It is so wonderful to finally be here" she exclaimed letting her grandmother go. Her grandmother had grey, crinkled hair and a creased face. Though her teeth were yellowed and crossed her smile could warm any heart.
"Come I must introduce you to people" she said grabbing the woman's hand and steering her through the crowd. For an old woman who could sometimes never get out of bed because of arthritis she sure could walk fast.
"Slow down!" Janice laughed "Else you'll just be dragging my arm" She slowed slightly still keeping good pace but didn't stop until they were at the desired destination.
"Here is where yer new home will be" she said pointing to the small hut before them. Working on the thatching atop the roof was a dark haired man with a boyish face. Her grandmother yelled to the man. "Elijah!! Get down here!" the man saluted the old woman before climbing down the ladder leaning against the house and walking towards the pair.
"And who be this lovely woman?" Elijah asked "Surely not the spinster granddaughter you kept telling me about?"
"Spinster?" Janice asked laughingly "Have you been slandering me, Grandmother?"
"I kid only" her grandmother answered "And what of you Elijah? Telling me you were to busy to come to the docks and I find you here thatching my roof? Not right to lie it 'tis"
"Aye, you be right" he said dramatically "You should just string me in the gallows"
"Not yet, Elijah. I'll just tan your hide if you be lying again"
"Then I guess I shan't be lying any more" he said
"Good maybe then we can have an honest conversation over tea perhaps?" she asked
"Are you asking me to tea or trying to get me with the spinster?" Elijah countered
"Does it matter?" Grandmother asked
"Tea would be lovely, Widow Adler" He answered
* * * * * * * *
I woke to a loud knocking on my door. I had been asleep for hours though it felt as if my head had just hit the bed, funny how that is. I moved from the bed and put on my cowhide boots and the knocking came again.
"Who is it?" I asked rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
"Yer semi-devoted student who 'ill not be devoted at all if ye don't come out soon" the person behind the door said. I sighed and opened the door to see the scraggly haired captain before me. "Sleep well lassie?"
"Yes, despite some weird dreams" I answered
"Ohh, I have some of the weirdest dreams. I had one where I ate my mutinous first mate for supper …Or did that really happen…" he responded. He was kidding right? "Doesn't matter, 'tis all one big blur to me."
"Well my dream wasn't anything like that" I said brushing my hair behind my ear. It must look a fright, full of hay and tangles.
"Well doesn't matter now." He said "Go and fix yerself for the day and I'll bring ye somethin' to break yer fast." And with that he was gone. I shut the door and moved to the mirror once again staring into the dirt covered glass. I picked up the old shift and dusted the glass until I couldn't make out a reflection of myself. I was right, I was a fright. My hair was stuck with hay and tangles and my shirt was a mass of wrinkles. I had picked myself free of hay and tangles, causing my once cat tail to now become straight and red around my shoulders, and was working on my clothing when the captain reappeared in my room.
"Good morning, Captain" I said to him with what must have looked like a very strange curtsy due to my lack of dress.
"Good morning to ye lassie. I brought you some food" He said and dropped a tray onto the chair next to me and sat down on my bed. I looked down and saw what was on it. Hardtack and ale.
"Hardtack?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Beggars can't be choosers, lassie. We've been over this." He said lying down with his hands behind his head.
"That we have" I said picking up a biscuit and chewing on the least stale part.
"Now when ye are done with that ye'll teach the readin', writin' and such" he said as I lifted the mug to my lips.
"What do you know so far? So I know where you are" I asked
"I know the alphabet and such" he answered
"What about vowels and consonants? Do you know them" I asked stuffing another biscuit into my hungered mouth
"Are they the things with the… No wait" he said
"That's a no" I said
"Are ye done with yer food yet?" he asked
"Yes" I answered swallowing the last of the ale.
"Good" he said jumping from the bed "Follow me" he then began walking away and I scurried to follow his long paces. We entered his cabin and I looked around. How come he got this room and I got the small closet of a room? He sat on his bed and looked up at me. "Now" he said "Teach me"
"Do you have any parchment or anything I can write on?" I asked looking around the spacious cabin
"Aye, in the drawer there" he said pointing to the desk in front of me with two chairs in front of it. I wonder if he ever used it. I opened the drawer and saw couple of pages of parchment and picked them up and placed them on the face of the desk.
"There all set" I said and then turned to see the captain laying on his bed looking up at me.
"Why not skip the lesson and unmake this bed, Savvy?" he said patting the area beside him.
"How about we keep with the lesson and skip the bed?" I retorted
"I know exactly what you mean" he said and tipped his mustache up
"Now if you don't mind can we get on with the lesson?" I asked
"Fine lovie" he said and crossed the room and sat in one of the chairs and I sat in the opposing one.
"Now do you know the entire alphabet?" I asked watching as he leaned back in the chair
"Oh the whole thing me'lass" he said
"Recite it then" I said
"A, B, C, D, E, effergee, H, I, J, K, a lemono P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W Ex-whyzee" he recited
"Good enough" I said not commenting on his mistakes "Now, I'm going to write the letters down and I want you to copy them for me"
"But if ye already wrote them why should I?" he asked.
"Because I want to know you understand them" I said trying to keep my cool.
"How's 'bout I just look and ye'll write it" he asked a teasing glance in his eye
"How about not" I said and started to write down the letters. "Now this is an A. It starts the word arm" I was about to go on to B when he interrupted.
"Can I ask ye something?" he asked
"What?" I asked
"Well, it's just that, that damned Bartholomew wrote 'is own damned articles and would ye mind writing some up for me?" he asked
"No I wouldn't mind doing that" I said "But I won't do it until we have finished the lesson, so I suggest we get started" It wasn't even noon by the time we finished the day's lesson and I was pleasantly surprised at the captain's learning capacity.
"Now can we start on the Articles?" the captain asked like a whining child
"Yes, captain" I said and grabbed a quill and a blank parchment to write.
"Wonderful" he said and started to pace the room. "These be the articles of Captain Jack Sparrow and all on his crew and all under his order shall sign."
"…shall sign" I muttered breathily as I wrote it
"First, none shall fraternize with any other aboard. Second, all shall keep their arms clean and ready for the case of fight." He said "How's that sound so far?"
"Good so far captain" I answered my quill still poised for writing
"Jack please, lassie" he said
"Jack then" I said my eyes on the paper instead of the scraggly captain.
"Third," he continued and began to pace again " If any person shall see it fit to leave in the midst of battle they shall have no less than their tongue cut out and be branded for life and no more than his head cut from his body." I gasped at this.
"You wouldn't really do that would you?" I asked
"Tough life being a pirate it is," he commented "But it has its rewards. Shall we go on" I nodded and turned my eyes once again to the paper "Fourth, if any shall lose a limb in battle or the manning of the ship then shall be compensated with seven hundred pounds. Fifth, each man shall get an equal share of treasure. If any shall hide any booty from the rest he shall be marooned." He stopped and took a breath petted the doorway and kept on "sixth, if one shall strike another while on board he shall receive forty strikes to the bare back. Seventh, every person will obey the articles or the captain shall think of a suitable punishment if it not yet be specified."
"That it?" I asked looking up from the parchment.
"Aye, all it needs is to be signed" he said "Thanks fer doin' this"
"No problem captain...Jack" I said with a smile
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
How was that? Good, bad, terrible? Don't just sit there click the little button down there. Jack'll tell you about it won't you Jack?
Jack: It's Captain! Captain Jack Sparrow
And as you can see I didn't kill him and thanks for those of you that review and for those that didn't TTTTTTHHHHHHHHHHHBBBBBBBBBBBBTTTTTTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jack: Can we go and watch Valley Girl now?
BTW Jack has a secret obsession with Valley Girl and is especially fond of Nicholas Cage.
Jack: No I don't I like that girl, the redhead
Me: uh huh and her name is?
Jack: UHHH… Does it really matter?
Me: like I said
Jack: Hello Are we going to watch it or not?
Me: just put it in the DVD player
Jack: That thing scares me!!!
Me: *sigh* Gotta go!! Bye!! Oh and in case you need a reminder REVIEW!!!!!!