While I stood at attention, waiting for Captain Marksby's orders, I took a look at the beautiful ship, possessor of the deck on which I was standing.

The Peacock was truly a sight to behold. Anyone who appreciated sailing or the vessels would positively have wanted to shimmy up her main mast just to get a feel for her. Originally built as a present for the owner's wife, Elizabeth, it was put into commission for trading, designed to sail freely in the westward winds to the islands and back once more. Even though she was meant to sail as something more than just trading, Mr. Applewhite wanted to use her in the merchant and trading fields.

A brig, the Peacock was a two-master with her foremast square rigged; on the main mast were the square sails, along with the fore-and-aft gaffsail, the brigsail…aye, she was such a beauty! There wasn't much need for a large crew, as our mission was little more than an island trading expedition. I was along simply for the experience of it all, so to speak.

How I wished to own my own ship one day! Of course, if I did, I would be the captain. No one else would be good enough to take command of my ship, which I would name the Jumper. No particular reason other than I liked that name.

As I stood there dreaming of my own ship, I started to recollect how I first came in contact with Captain Marksby and the Peacock to begin with.

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Taken in by my Aunt Felicity when my parents had died, I was not a cooperative child. I did not understand why my parents had left me and were never coming back…how could a child possibly realize the finality of death? 'Tis impossible, in my opinion. Regardless of the methods that were used to explain my parents' death to me, I still think that Aunt Felicity could have tried harder to comfort an orphaned child. Eh, no matter…'tis neither here nor there.

I remember one day in particular…the day I decided I wanted to set sail for adventure on the deep blue sea…

"Jenny Harmon! I will not have you sailing off like some awful sailor," Aunt Felicity exclaimed, once I had made my wishes known to her. "You were put into my care to raise you in the ways of being a lady! What would your poor deceased parents think if they could hear what you have said!"

Looking up into my aunt's eyes, I tried to find any evidence that she was saying this out of love for me; yet, I could not help but think that this fuss was nothing more than concern for her own image. I would like to think I would have their blessings…I really do not know what Mother and Father would say, but I like to imagine that if they were here, they would tell me to follow my dreams, no matter what it took.

"Aunt Felicity…I just want to try it, to see if I even like it! I did not say I wanted to make it my life's work!" I protested.

"I will not hear another word!"

"Bu-"

"Not another word!"

With that last final thought on the matter, I was sent to my room to consider my 'sins.' I supposed at that moment that I would never set foot on a ship as long as I lived with Aunt Felicity. Somehow, I managed to get my hands on a copy of the local newspaper. What I was looking for, I did not know.

Then I found it.

Advertised in the paper was an ad that said the following:

Brig Peacock, to sail on April the sixteenth, by morning's tide. Captain James Marksby, master.

As I sat on my bed with the paper clutched in my hands, I wondered if they needed a cabin boy. I knew I could not do much else, but I could train to do any of the chores aboard ship. Determined to do what I desired, I began to plot how I was going to get to the ship without Aunt Felicity finding out.

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The next morning, before daylight had come up, I snuck out of my room to make my way to the waterfront, specifically the Peacock's pier. I opened my window which looked out into my aunt's garden. Fastening the shutters back and slowly pulling the glass up so it would not creak, I gathered my skirts up and crawled out of the window…except once out of my second-story room, I realized I had made a mistake – I had no way to get down.

Hanging onto the windowsill and peering down at the ground twenty feet below me, I wondered what I was going to do. I could not jump – I might break my leg. There was a large tree not too far away, but it was still too far away to try and jump into it. What could I do? I'd come this far…I couldn't turn back now. Well, I could, but I did not want to.

Being as quiet as possible, I lowered myself as far as I would go. Then grabbing onto the windowsill with the tips of my fingers, I decided the only way to go would be to land in the bushes. Here goes nothing! I let go and fell, backside down, into the prickly bushes!

Ooof!

I lay still for a moment, the wind knocked out of me. Gradually, I began to move my arms and legs, making sure nothing was broken. I breathed a sigh of relief that nothing was out of place. Pulling myself out of the bushes, I brushed my dress out and straightened my mussed hair. As I walked away from the house, I began to realize I had no idea how to get to the waterfront.

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Through much wandering and cursing my stupidity, I finally arrived at the waterfront an hour later. I knew I had arrived just by the smell of dampness in the air…it was a penetrating smell, one that almost followed you wherever you went. Anyway, I had hoped to secure my place on the Peacock by now and be on my way home, not just now arriving at the docks. Stupidity aside, I began trying to see which ship was the one I was searching for. It was rather difficult to read the names in the dark even though there were lanterns around, so I began to get closer and closer to the ships in order to see. I did not notice I was getting rather close to the edge of the pier until I fell in.

Splash!

I immediately came up to the surface sputtering and spitting water. I knew how to swim, but I was a tad rusty in my form since I had to keep it hidden from Aunt Felicity. I paddled over to the dock and tried to pull myself out, but my skirts had become extremely heavy with the added water. So there I was, struggling to haul myself up out of the water when two hands reached down and drew me out, as though I was no heavier than a rag doll.

Up I went and then set down gently on the pier. Pushing the wet hair out of my face, I struggled to see my rescuer. I peered up at him and without uttering a sound, I studied him from head to foot. I could not really see his face that well since he wore a large brimmed hat, but I could almost swear that his face…was not real. I cannot really explain it…I just know that whoever he was, he saved my life.

I bent down to wring out my skirts a bit and then looked up to thank my rescuer, but he had vanished into the night.

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Once I had dried out a bit, I came in contact with Captain Marksby, closer to where the Peacock was docked. To my surprise, he accepted my proposal without any argument about my being female.

"So…it does not bother you that I am a girl, Captain Marksby?" I asked, twisting a part of my skirt in my hand.

"As long as you are willing to hold your own with the crew, I see no immediate problems," he replied, smiling at me.

With that, I thanked him and received orders to report at the same dock the next week precisely at dawn.

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The very next week, I did just that. I left a note for Aunt Felicity, saying I appreciated everything she had done for me. I just needed to go and figure out my life…strong words for someone my age, I know. Yet, when death tears your perfect world apart, somehow you find the strength to carry on…to go on living, as would have been my parents' wish.

As for my clothes, I had learned to sew much by force since Aunt Felicity had insisted all young ladies should know how. I am now grateful that I actually paid attention…that skill has helped me more than I ever imagined. At night once she had gone to sleep, I would pull the garments out from under my mattress and sew on them by candlelight; stitch by stitch, I pieced together my sailing outfit – loose-fitting pants, a boy's shirt, and a scarf to tie my hair up. For the shoes, I…borrowed…a pair from my cousin. I did not think he would miss them at all.

When the time came, I donned the clothes I had so carefully made and left the note on the sideboard in the dining area. I knew she would find it there in the morning. At first, I felt bad for running away like this, but I realized that if I were to fulfill my dreams, this is what had to be done.

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…and so, dear reader, that is how I came to be aboard the Peacock. Granted, it was not an exciting and daring escape from an evil aunt or whatnot, just a girl running away to join the crew of a merchant ship bound for the islands.

Little did I know it was to be a mission not soon forgotten…