I climed aboard the ship with five other new ship mates, we were told to satnd by the side and wait for the captain, he would decide if we could stay aboard. We all waited nervously. I tried to remember my storey in my head so I wouldn't get it wrong if he asked me.

"CAPAIN ON THE DECK!" Shouted gibbs, all the men stood to a tension,. So did I. I thought it was the right things to do. I looked round at the other new mates and only two others were standing to a tension to.

"You... and you" The captain pointed to hose who weren't standing to a tention. "Get off my ship now!" He lunged at them and they ran away. The captain wondered down the line "the name's capatain Jack Sparrow. You call me captain or sir"

I gasped. a distant memory from a long time ago sparked in my mind. I heard that name before, when did i hear it?

"You man. Whats' your name?" he looked a man up down "The name's David." he replied and then looked at Jack's face "Sir!" he finished. the captain smield "And what are you doing aboard my ship... David?"

"I.. want to be a pirate. Sir!"

Jack looked amused "Oh really, and are you wllling to follow orders and face all most certain death?"

David hesitated "Sir?"

"OFF MY SHIP!"

"No sir. Please. Yes I am!"The captain stopped. "I said off my ship! MEN, take him away!"

David left kicking and screamig and was unceremoniusly dumped off boared. I practised my answer in my head hopeing I didn't look nervous. I didn't want to get this wrong! I didn't have any other choice.

the capatin walked up to the second boy, Billy, and billy was allowed to stay aboard.

"And you boy. What's your name boy?" he asked me, i stood to a tension even more "Turner John Turner. Sir. I've come aboard to-"

"I didn't ask fer yer life story boy. Just ye name, savvy? Turner you say?"

"Yes sir. Turner sir. That's my name sir."

"Stop yer babblin' boy. Welcome aboard!"

I slumped in relief and was told to follow gibbs. Where we met the first officer.

"I'm Will. Your first officer, you come to me if you have a problem. You call me sir any questions?"

Billy asked. "Where do we sleep?"

Will thought for a moment or two. "We'll have to see if we cant find you a hammock. Come with me boys."

We followed will down below deck. I looked all around me in amazement at all the ropes. And the sails. We got under deck and noticed that will had to stoop a little. I was glad I was a little shorter than most, coz I'm a woman I guess I would be shorter. Bily didn't have to duck, but He was only 13. I was 21, but not very tall for my age because i hadn't eaten anough as a a kid.

Will strode through the deck and down to another deck where loads of hammocks were. "There you go billy, theres yer hammock" Will said pointing out a hammock

"Sir," I asked "Where's my hammock?"

Will looked at me kindly "we only have one left, and that's billy's now. "oh" i said looking disappointed, I looked at the floor and saw it was made of wood and looked very hard.

"I tell you what John, come with me, we'll have a word with the captain about your sleeping arrangments, OK?"

"Uhh. Okay" I said and trotted off after him,

"Sir?" I asked will. "Yes?" he asked "How come you speak so nicely. I always thought pirates talked nasty"

Will smiled "Ahh, well you'll find out soon enough no doubt. Now come on the captain will be waiting"

"Ok" And I followed him in silence.

Will knocked on the captians door and entered when told he could

"Captain, it seems that young John here has nowhere to sleep"

"Ah John." the capatin said. "I remember you. Gibbs said ye have a bit o' cheek about you, savvy?"

I didn't know what to say so i kept quiet. I reliased where i had remembered him from now. The day we stole that half-crown when I was just a girl.

"Captain..." I said remembering

"Yes lad?"

I blinked "Oh. Umm.nothing sir"

Will looked at me and then at Jack "Where shall the boy sleep sir. There's no hammocks left"

"Well," Said Jack, biting into an apple "it seems we have oursleves a problem here" he chewed the apple carefully. "Ok. John, ye can share wi' Will. How abou' that, savvy?"

I looked at Will and he smiled and then left " I have work to do captain. Excuse me"

"Ay Will, see you later" sreplied Jack

I looked at the captain " Thankyou sir. I... thought i might have to sleep on the floor!"

Jack laughed and then looked at me with a strange look. "You know boy, you look familiar."

"So do you sir" I said, without thinking and then kicked myself for saying it. Jack laughed again"Ahh, that'll be that famous cheek Gibbs told me about then!"

I tried not to grin.

"So boy, what's your story?" Jack asked, putting his feet on the table and throwing me an apple. I dropped it and dropped to the floor and fumbled round for the apple. I looked up from my knees and said "I'm just trying to find my fortune captain. Like we all are" I picked up the apple and stood up and looked at it.

"it ain't poisoned you know" he said. I smiled and took a bite from the apple.

"You know lad, I like you. I think i'll have you around my side, you can help me with stuff."

"What kind of stuff?" i adked, my eyes wide as saucers

"Oh you know, fetching my hat. Getting my sword, getting me some rum. That kinda thing"

"Won't I be working with the rest of the crew?" I sasked "Won't they mind"

"Of course not boy. I'm captain Jack Sparrow, savvy? Their a loyle crew and will do as i say. If you get any trouble, just talk to will. He'll sort it out for ya. He's a good first mate. Wouldn't have a finer man by my side"

"umm. What should I do first sir?"

"Well, for starters, ye can start by calling me Jack, that's me name, savvy? And secondly you need to go down to dinner. We all eat togetrher here, ain't got no airs and graces me. Follow me John." and with that he tottered off the deck.

Later i was in wills cabin and we were in our beds. I had been given a little cot the opposite side of Wills.

"Will" i asked to the darkness

"Yes?" he asked, with a smile i couldn't see because of the dark

"does jack always have a helper?"

"No boy, you musta just stood out to him"

"I think the others will get jealous"

"they won't"

"OK. Night will."

"Night John."

I settled into a happy sleep. My last thoughts were "Finally! Something good has happened. I'm free!"

I woke up to hear someone shouting out a boys name "JOHN! Are you alright?"

"Huh? Who's?" I wandered . I opened my eyes to see a concerned will looking at me, i was breathing heavily and sweating. "Huh?"

"John, you were shouting something in your sleep. You were shouting out saying "no, get off me, I won't do it! Are you alright?"

I blinked, oh no. I'd must have dreamt about mr. Smith. The memoreys came back to me and i swallowed back some tears. "Oh, I guess i was just dreaming" I said hoping will would beleave me.

"OK" Will smiled at me. "If your sure"

I nodded and rolled back over bringing my blankets closer round me. I hated lying too will. He had been really good to me, but i couldn't tell him what happened.

What only semeed like minutes later i was being woken up by will's

"Come on john, time to get up, there's work to be done. You need go and find the captain and get some orders and hurry!"

"OK" I said jumping out of bed, trying to straighten my clothes as best I could. I walked over to the mirror and looked at myself. Boy I looked tired. I spent some time putting my hair up in lots of braids, glad that i hadn't cut my hair too short. I had kept my red streak long, and the braided this sepratley with a length of black cotton in the middle. and then put on my red banana again that was in my kit bag. I looked at my reflection and was happy. I turned aound and tripped over my kit bag. I moved it out of the way and I saw my necklace there. And decide that when i had the chance i would do something about it. Might look a bit strange having a girls necklace with me.

I found the captain.

"Hello Jack" I said

"Hey John" He looked me up and own "nice hair" he said. I blushed and realised it looked quite similar to his, except that I didn't have beads in it like his.

I was kept busy all day, i had lots to learn. Jack showed me how to steer the ship.

At lunchtime, i went below deck and sat with billy but when the captain and will came, they said to me "Come and sit here boy. By my side" Jack patted the bench beside him. I got up and walked, not seeing the look that some of the crew gave me.