Chapter 5
"Poker, Rum, and a New Friend"
"Well, it's certainly not like her to just get up and run off in the night," says your father.
"Now dear, she's with Norrington. You have nothing to worry about. After all, their wedding is coming up soon. It's vital they get to know each other very well and spend some time together," says your mother.
"She never told me she was going with Norrington," says Valerie. "But, I guess she changed her mind. He's supposed to return in a week."
"Still though, I don't like it. I'll write the Commodore and demand he return my daughter. He took her without asking me!" screams your father, slamming his fist down onto the table, spilling his cup of tea.
Your father, Luis, was a stout man with thick gray hair and gray eyes. He came from a wealthy family and did not work because of it. Your mother, Florence, was just as beautiful as your sister and Elizabeth with golden blonde hair and blue eyes.
"Luis, dear, please just calm down," pleads your mother. "You should be proud that such a fine man will be marrying one of your daughters."
Your father hops up and storms off, muttering something about foolish fiancés. Your sister and mother just stare at each other, shaking their heads.
You're standing on the deck, starring down at the water. The moon winks at you in from the choppy mirror of dark water. You can see your face, dirty from scrubbing the kitchen and preparing dinner. Your own eyes stare at you. Wow. Only a few days from home and you're already a new woman.you mean "gentlemen." You had a sword and began picking up on the pirate dialogue and their way of living. You even engaged in a spitting range contest earlier and came in second place. Your manly voice was still scratchy and your most of the crew called you a "pretty Boy" because of your "feminine" looks, but you fit in like a velvet glove.
"Hey Luke!" cries a voice.
You turn around and see Gibbs waving at you.
"Yeah?" you say.
"Come play poque with me and Jack and a few others!" he cries.
You walk over to Gibbs and feel your heart jump into your throat. Okay, so you were familiar with poque. Your father played it with his friends every Tuesday night and even let you watch and play a few times, but you were such a terrible player. Gibbs leads you to the kitchen and to a small round table in the corner. Jack and a few men are around it. Several bottles of rum litter the floor.
You check your pockets for some money and find some. You sit down across from Jack. Gibbs deals and bets are placed. You gulp and pick up your cards. Not bad. You smile sheepishly. You take a bottle of rum and gulp down a swig. Jack flashes everyone a grin to everyone. A few hours later, the game comes down to you and Jack. Gibbs deals a new hand to you and Jack. You push all your money to the center of the table. Jack does the same. Jack places his cards down and grins like a gorilla in a banana patch.
"Read 'em and weep," he coos, placing down his hand which is a full house.
You look at your cards and then back at Jack. You lower your eyes.
"Jack, I think."
You slowly put down your cards and see Jack's grin fade away to disbelief.
"A royal flush beats your full house!"
You jump up and dance around, Gibbs applauding you with the other defeated players. Jack's eye twitches, but he gets up extends his hand.
"Good job, lad, good job," he says.
You shake his hand and look up into his face, into those dazzling dark eyes like the black water outside. You feel yourself weaken as his eyes search his.
"Ya look a bit familiar," he says, awakening you from your trance. "You remind me of someone I met, but must be the rum talking."
You collect your money and high tail it out of there. God, oh God! Jack says you look familiar! What if he finds out who you really are? Would he make you walk the plank? You rush to the captain's quarters and decide to clean up. Jack would be busy attending to the night crew so no one would disturb you. You warm up some water on a wooden stove and then pour it into a tub in the bathroom and removed your clothes. You let your hair down and allow it to tumble to your waist. You pour in a sweet scented soup into the water and I foams. You slipped into the tub and let all your tense muscles relax. The water comes up to the base of your neck. You dip your head under the water to wash your hair. You then scrub the dirt off your legs and body and then drain the water. Just as you are climbing out and grabbing a towel, the door swings open. You here someone gasp in shock just as you wrap the towel around your body, your wet hair dangling around you.
"Oh me God! Oh me God!" chants the intruder, dropping a bunch of towels.
You push the person in and slam the door shut, locking it and mentally kicking yourself for not locking it earlier. Your swing around and face the person.
"You're a man-woman!" gasps AnaMaria. "Captain! Captain!"
You place a hand over her mouth. Her hazel eyes bore into yours.
"I'm not a man-woman," you say. "I'm a woman who has been disguising herself as a man. Just let me explain. I'll remove my hand if your promise not to scream."
AnaMaria nods her head yes. You remove your hand from her mouth.
"Why would ya do such a thing for, miss?" she asks in a whisper.
You tell her your whole story of how you rarely ever got out, how you were engaged to Norrington, and how you craved for adventure; so, you disguised yourself as a man to join Jack on an adventure. AnaMaria stares at you after your finish your story.
"Please don't tell Jack or anyone! Please!" you beg.
"Alright, Luke.ah."
"My name is (your full name)," you say.
"(Your name), I promise ya upon me heart I won't tell. I was beginning to think that you were an odd lad, with your politeness, good cooking, and girly looks. I'm rather relieved to find you're a woman, but I hate to find this out. If any of the men every find out, no telling what they'd do to ya." says AnaMaria.
"So, are we friends?" you ask, extending your hand.
"Friends," says AnaMaria, drawing you into a hug.
You emerge later after AnaMaria has left, feeling a bit relieved you can be yourself around one person. Your hair is back in a bun and hidden away behind your bandana. Your mustache is back on and your nightclothes as well. You crawl into the bed and Jack walks in.
"Aye Luke, good poque player ya are. Gotta teach em your tricks," he says.
You smile sheepishly and say, "Okay."
You turn your to the side and fall asleep. Jack stares at you. His eyes travel your body. He smiles as he looks at your face. Then he chokes.
"Dear God! I'm feeling for a guy! Help me! Help me!" he thinks, running outside to find Gibbs.
"Poker, Rum, and a New Friend"
"Well, it's certainly not like her to just get up and run off in the night," says your father.
"Now dear, she's with Norrington. You have nothing to worry about. After all, their wedding is coming up soon. It's vital they get to know each other very well and spend some time together," says your mother.
"She never told me she was going with Norrington," says Valerie. "But, I guess she changed her mind. He's supposed to return in a week."
"Still though, I don't like it. I'll write the Commodore and demand he return my daughter. He took her without asking me!" screams your father, slamming his fist down onto the table, spilling his cup of tea.
Your father, Luis, was a stout man with thick gray hair and gray eyes. He came from a wealthy family and did not work because of it. Your mother, Florence, was just as beautiful as your sister and Elizabeth with golden blonde hair and blue eyes.
"Luis, dear, please just calm down," pleads your mother. "You should be proud that such a fine man will be marrying one of your daughters."
Your father hops up and storms off, muttering something about foolish fiancés. Your sister and mother just stare at each other, shaking their heads.
You're standing on the deck, starring down at the water. The moon winks at you in from the choppy mirror of dark water. You can see your face, dirty from scrubbing the kitchen and preparing dinner. Your own eyes stare at you. Wow. Only a few days from home and you're already a new woman.you mean "gentlemen." You had a sword and began picking up on the pirate dialogue and their way of living. You even engaged in a spitting range contest earlier and came in second place. Your manly voice was still scratchy and your most of the crew called you a "pretty Boy" because of your "feminine" looks, but you fit in like a velvet glove.
"Hey Luke!" cries a voice.
You turn around and see Gibbs waving at you.
"Yeah?" you say.
"Come play poque with me and Jack and a few others!" he cries.
You walk over to Gibbs and feel your heart jump into your throat. Okay, so you were familiar with poque. Your father played it with his friends every Tuesday night and even let you watch and play a few times, but you were such a terrible player. Gibbs leads you to the kitchen and to a small round table in the corner. Jack and a few men are around it. Several bottles of rum litter the floor.
You check your pockets for some money and find some. You sit down across from Jack. Gibbs deals and bets are placed. You gulp and pick up your cards. Not bad. You smile sheepishly. You take a bottle of rum and gulp down a swig. Jack flashes everyone a grin to everyone. A few hours later, the game comes down to you and Jack. Gibbs deals a new hand to you and Jack. You push all your money to the center of the table. Jack does the same. Jack places his cards down and grins like a gorilla in a banana patch.
"Read 'em and weep," he coos, placing down his hand which is a full house.
You look at your cards and then back at Jack. You lower your eyes.
"Jack, I think."
You slowly put down your cards and see Jack's grin fade away to disbelief.
"A royal flush beats your full house!"
You jump up and dance around, Gibbs applauding you with the other defeated players. Jack's eye twitches, but he gets up extends his hand.
"Good job, lad, good job," he says.
You shake his hand and look up into his face, into those dazzling dark eyes like the black water outside. You feel yourself weaken as his eyes search his.
"Ya look a bit familiar," he says, awakening you from your trance. "You remind me of someone I met, but must be the rum talking."
You collect your money and high tail it out of there. God, oh God! Jack says you look familiar! What if he finds out who you really are? Would he make you walk the plank? You rush to the captain's quarters and decide to clean up. Jack would be busy attending to the night crew so no one would disturb you. You warm up some water on a wooden stove and then pour it into a tub in the bathroom and removed your clothes. You let your hair down and allow it to tumble to your waist. You pour in a sweet scented soup into the water and I foams. You slipped into the tub and let all your tense muscles relax. The water comes up to the base of your neck. You dip your head under the water to wash your hair. You then scrub the dirt off your legs and body and then drain the water. Just as you are climbing out and grabbing a towel, the door swings open. You here someone gasp in shock just as you wrap the towel around your body, your wet hair dangling around you.
"Oh me God! Oh me God!" chants the intruder, dropping a bunch of towels.
You push the person in and slam the door shut, locking it and mentally kicking yourself for not locking it earlier. Your swing around and face the person.
"You're a man-woman!" gasps AnaMaria. "Captain! Captain!"
You place a hand over her mouth. Her hazel eyes bore into yours.
"I'm not a man-woman," you say. "I'm a woman who has been disguising herself as a man. Just let me explain. I'll remove my hand if your promise not to scream."
AnaMaria nods her head yes. You remove your hand from her mouth.
"Why would ya do such a thing for, miss?" she asks in a whisper.
You tell her your whole story of how you rarely ever got out, how you were engaged to Norrington, and how you craved for adventure; so, you disguised yourself as a man to join Jack on an adventure. AnaMaria stares at you after your finish your story.
"Please don't tell Jack or anyone! Please!" you beg.
"Alright, Luke.ah."
"My name is (your full name)," you say.
"(Your name), I promise ya upon me heart I won't tell. I was beginning to think that you were an odd lad, with your politeness, good cooking, and girly looks. I'm rather relieved to find you're a woman, but I hate to find this out. If any of the men every find out, no telling what they'd do to ya." says AnaMaria.
"So, are we friends?" you ask, extending your hand.
"Friends," says AnaMaria, drawing you into a hug.
You emerge later after AnaMaria has left, feeling a bit relieved you can be yourself around one person. Your hair is back in a bun and hidden away behind your bandana. Your mustache is back on and your nightclothes as well. You crawl into the bed and Jack walks in.
"Aye Luke, good poque player ya are. Gotta teach em your tricks," he says.
You smile sheepishly and say, "Okay."
You turn your to the side and fall asleep. Jack stares at you. His eyes travel your body. He smiles as he looks at your face. Then he chokes.
"Dear God! I'm feeling for a guy! Help me! Help me!" he thinks, running outside to find Gibbs.
