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Chapter Five: Pirates Are Bad

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I had survived an excruciating week of learning with Missus Whitman, and I was very thankful that the weekend had arrived. I was even happy to get up, which surprised Maggie. Of course, after having spent that treacherous week with Missus Whitman, the weekend seemed so peaceful to me. I wouldn't have to do any work. I could spend the whole day playing and eating. Because it was the weekend, I was permitted to wear my pirate clothes, which seemed comfortable fit after wearing suffocating dresses for a while. As long as I didn't have to go out into town, I could where them about the house.

I skipped from my room to the stairs and slid down the smooth railing only to collide into Roland who was waiting at the bottom.

"OW!" he yelled, rubbing his head.

"Sorry," I said, helping him up.

"Watch where you're going next time!"

"Well someone is in a bad mood today," said I with a cross of my arms.

"What do you know about it? Matthew Stanbury is coming," Roland replied angrily.

"Who's Matthew?" I asked.

"An acquaintance from my school. His mum knows ours and he's coming over to play."

"So? What can be so bad about him?" I had never heard of someone so horrible, and I was moved to be skeptical.

"You haven't met Matthew, Astrid. He's a simpleton. Nobody likes him at school. He's a spoiled little prissy brat."

"Hey, but it's us two against him. You won't suffer alone."

"He won't like you. He hates girls, but you know what I think?" He leaned in close and whispered in my ear. "I think he's afraid of them." I started to laugh.

"You're right. He does seem like a prissy spoiled brat." For indeed, he did.

"Exactly; and Mum is going out to town with his mum and Dad is going to his shop. We'll be left here."

"Hmm..." I thought for a moment about our problem and paced around the wooden floor, rubbing my chin. "Is there any way we can go with him?"

"I don't know, but we don't have long to think of a plan."

"All right, but I'm gonna eat breakfast first. I'm starving."

"Fine. I'll think of a plan." I said good-bye to Roland and skipped to the kitchen where Lisa greeted me with her oh-so-special glare.

"Miss Astrid, you know you're not supposed to wear pirate clothes!" she said as I took my seat.

"It's a Saturday, Lisa. Missus Whitman ain't here."

"You should know better, Miss, if you want to be a lady one day." She handed me my food and I began to stuff my face as I shrugged at her comment.

"I'm sure you want to go outside and play," she said. "So ye best finish up." I smiled at Lisa for her kindess, and I finished up my food and left the kitchen. I ran out into the gardens and, sure enough, there was Roland sitting on a bench pondering.

"Have you figured out a plan yet?" I asked taking a seat next to him.

"No," he replied glumly. "Father left while you were eating. I asked him if we could go, but he said a blacksmith shop was no place for children." I sat and my eyes wandered around the gardens. I didn't really understand why Roland was so depressed by the coming of Matthew. No boy could be that bad. Could he?

My legs dangled a little above the ground as I sat while Roland sat quiet and still, his legs tucked under the bench. One of my boots began to slide off my leg, and I had just pulled it back up when we heard Mother calling us.

"Roland!" she called. "Matthew has arrived!" I turned my head towards him and his face was pale and his eyes were wide.

"I guess Matthew came a little bit early," I said. Roland didn't respond, and he stayed in the same position.

"Roland! Welcome your friend now!" And if he was brought out of a daze, Roland blinked and walked somberly back into the house. I giggled as soon as he left and snuck into the house behind him.

I stayed hidden behind a wall, peeking at Mum, Roland, and our guests every now and then. Sure enough, there was Matthew. He was a little smaller than Roland, which meant he was a little smaller than me. His hair was a dark blond and his eyes were green. He didn't look much of a terror to me, but Roland just continued to look as if he had just seen a ghost. I had to admit though that Matthew was stupidly pampered. His hair was pulled back and neatly done in a ponytail. He wore a very ornate navy blue coat with gold buttons. His stockings were abnormally white and his black shoes glistened in the light. I grew more daring and poked my head out a little further, and I listened to their conversation.

"Nice to see you again, Matthew," Roland said, his voice direct and toneless.

"Pleasure seeing you again as well, Roland." Matthew replied, his head held up high.

"Well, I might as well make you welcome. Shall I show you around the house?"

"Very well. 'Tis a good start at least." I saw Roland roll his eyes (though it went unnoticed by Matthew) and he began to lead Matthew away. I longed to join them, but I new I would make an ass of myself if I suddenly appeared to him. Mother and Missus Stanbury left soon after Roland led Matthew up the stairs for a tour of the house. As soon as the ladies were gone, I went up the stairs to meet this Matthew Stanbury.

"Avast!" I yelled out, a tad bit too loud in fact. I saw Roland nearly jump and Matthew turned his head abruptly in my direction.

"And who might you be?" Matthew asked, peering at me suspiciously.

"I'm Astrid." I saw Roland in the back and he was signaling me to stop where I was. I didn't. If I did, then I'd miss out on too much fun.

"And what are you doing in..." Matthew looked at my pirate apparel and scrunched up his face in disgust. "What are you doing in those hideous rags?"

"They're not rags. They're my clothes."

"Are you sure you are welcome into the Turner home?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"

"You don't look like a Turner. You don't dress like them."

"I don't dress like this always, and I'm not really, kinda, sorta, like a Turner. I'm jus' staying here for a while." He shook his head at me.

"You disgust me. Stay away." My brows furrowed at him as he turned his back on me, and I wanted to pull the twit's ugly pony tail.

"What have I done to you? All I did was say 'hullo'. Why don't you like me?"

"I don't meddle with low-lives like you, and you can't expect everyone to like you." I clenched my fists.

"I'm not a low-life. Not anymore."

"So you were before? What were you before you came to the Turners?"

"I lived on a pirate ship," I replied proudly. I saw Roland turn away as soon as I said that. That damned Matthew didn't reply, so I decided to add more. "My father is the greatest pirate that ever lived!" Matthew stared at me blankly, and then started to laugh.

"Ha! You're father, a pirate? Ha! Pirates are the worst, most filthy people in the world, you idiot! And since you said your father is the greatest pirate that ever lived, then you're father is also the biggest dirty bastard that ever lived!" He laughed uncontrollably and my eyes blazed with anger.

"Shut up! Pirates ain't bad!" But he only laughed harder, to the point where he was kneeling on the floor. "Shut up!" I yelled again, but his ringing laughter did not cease. "Shut up!"

"Are," he began, but stopped to laugh. "You,"—again he laughed—"Crazy? Pirates,"—more laughter—"Pirates are the baddest people on earth!" With that he laughed even more, and I felt my eyes grow hot with tears.

"Shut up!" I couldn't take it anymore and I punched his face so hard, he fell to the floor crying and blood leaked out of his nose. "My father is the best person in the world!" I turned and ran to my room, slamming the large door shut. I ran to my bed and cried and yelled and kicked and screamed. I punched my tear sodden pillows with my tiny fists; but I couldn't help but think that Matthew was right. Were pirates really horrible people? Were they really that bad?

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I lay motionless on my bed, my eyes red-rimmed from crying. Matthew had no right to say Jack was a bastard. He wasn't. I loved him still, and even though he wasn't exactly like Will or Elizabeth, I loved him. He was, of course, my father. I heard a knock on my door, and I grunted. I wanted to be alone. "Go away!" I yelled.

"It's me: Roland." I sighed and got up from my bed and let him in.

"Whaddya want?" I asked.

"Nothing. Just checking on you. I told you to stop talking to Matthew. He doesn't like any girls."

"So where's the bloody toff now?"

"In the kitchen. Lisa's tending to his bloody nose. I only wish that I gave him that bloody nose," he laughed. "But you got to do the honors."

"Maybe I should have listened to you. Matthew had no right to say that about my daddy."

"But I thought you called my dad was your dad."

"Aye, but Jack still has his spot in my memories. They are blurry, but they are there. Are pirates bad, Roland?"

"I don't know. I am part pirate though. It comes from my dad. So I don't think they are as bad as Matthew said they were. I am, of course, part pirate. Can't make fun of my own blood, you know?"

"Aye. I'm part pirate too... and part wench. Some mixture of blood, right? I am the daughter of a pirate and a wench from Tortuga, who's now dead. Aye, Roland. I be really special." I spoke with little pride in who my parents were. It had suddenly occurred to me that pirates were bad because of Matthew, and well, my other half wasn't that great either. Who would be proud of a harlot?

"I'm sure you'll amount to something good at least. I mean, you're even getting an education."

"I don't know how that will help."

"Come on, Astrid. Cheer up. Listen, I need help making Matthew's stay here the worst so he doesn't have to come back. Come on. Help me make him cry."

"I can't look at the bloody cad. If I do, then I'll just punch him again."

"So punch him again! He deserves it for all I care." I snickered at Roland's comment and finally agreed to help him get rid of the dreaded Matthew Stanbury once and for all.