When dear Captain Jack went ashore he found the best school he could within England. They would not allow him past the gate. So he went to the next best school. He was thrown out. The third best and they called out for the officers. So on and so on. Several schools Jack did visit and was turned away as soon as the questions began. Yet there was one that did allow him to stay. Only after he showed them how much gold he was willing to give them.
After seeing the precious metal coins they allowed him inside their school and to see what all it had to offer. The building that held classes was dwarfed compare to the one next to it that held rooms for the students and some of the teachers there. Overall Jack had no idea if it was a good school or not. He wanted to be sure of course so he asked to see the classrooms. However Jack had no clue as to what is suppose to be in a good classroom. So as the principal leads him throughout the school he informs Jack of all the available classes and what the children would learn. Apparently it was one of the few schools in the country that allowed both boys and girls at the moment. A fact they were very proud of. Well it sounded like it would work well enough. However Jack had one question that was important.
"What of stars?"
"Stars, sir?" The principal asks pausing in his step.
"Aye, do you teach about the stars here. My child is very interested." Jack insists.
The principal held a befuddled look, but did eventually nod. "Yes the children do learn basic astronomy."
Well that was really all Jack had to hear. So he pays the man and left with a lighter coin purse then before. When Jack made it back to his ship he was greeted by Gibbs with a look of pride on his face. Little Carina was on the docks buying herself a treat before returning to the ship for the night. Jack was to take her to the school tomorrow. So he gave her two coins for now. To get her away from the ship. All the while he watches her as she wonders through the crowd, still keeping a watchful eye on her.
"What be the name of the school Jack?" Gibbs asks, standing close by the Captain's side.
"The esteem boarding school of Diverns." Jack replies not really sure if that was what the principal had said or if Jack had heard him incorrectly.
Gibbs gives his captain a look but simply moves on. "Sounds like a grand name. I'm sure she will learn a lot there."
"They teach about stars. Any good pirate needs to know about stars." Jack informs Gibbs. Both men knew that Jack never planned to have her become a pirate. It would have been against her best interests and despite his best attempts his men did see how much he cared for the girl. He cared about her learning the stars because she cared about it. Dear Carina cared about discovering the heavens because they spoke legends of her father and how the stars would take her back to him.
Barbossa. Jack wonders what he would think of the girl before him. The one being courteous to the strangers as she ran through the crowd. She was running straight back to the ship. Her treats in her hands. A sugar drop and a notebook was all Jack could see. The girl had already grabbed supplies before the thought had ever crossed his mind. That would be Gibbs task later.
"Careful." Gibbs cautions Carina as she runs up the wooden board without a care.
"Mr. Gibbs let the child run. She will learn when she falls. We will not always be there for her after all." The Captain orders low enough for Carina not to hear. His voice sounded uncharacteristically serious. A mood was forming around the captain that Gibbs never did liked to see. Not on his Captain Jack.
"Uncle Jack what's wrong?" Carina asks running straight to him.
"Nothing sweet. Show me what you have now." He encourages putting on a smile for her show.
"I got a candy, and a b-book, and a pencil." Carina says with a big smile.
"You're all ready for school!" Jack cheers pinching her cheek. The young girl pouts and pushes Jack's hand from her face.
"Will you be okay, Uncle Jack?" Carina asks as she lifts up her full hands.
Jack picks her up with ease. "Of course. Jackie is going to sail the seas and find some treasure. He'll come back to see you. So will Mr. Gibbs."
"Will my father?" Carina asks with a sad look taking her beautiful blue eyes.
Jack hated Barbossa the most in moments like this. He hated that the man was coward enough to abandon the girl on a stranger's doorstep. Yet Jack couldn't help but feel as if he was doing the same.
"Maybe." Jack would not make the girl a promise he could not keep.
Carina accepted the answer and places her new treasures in the Captain's quarters. The night went by peacefully for the men of the black Pearl. All of the men 'cept for the captain himself. Jack was up all night. Choosing instead to hide away up in the Crow's nest with a few close friends of his. Bottles that were full. So Jack passes the night the way he loved passing any moment of time ever. Drinking himself into a stupor. With the tag along friend of eventual rest.
The next day was one of the hardest Jack had ever faced. Thinking back onto the only one to surpass it was the day his crew mutinied against him and left the poor pirate for dead. The day began with Carina finding him hanging from the ropes of the crow's nest in the morning. Gibbs woke him up with a bucket of sea water. Revenge for when Jack had down the same to him a long time ago. At least his bucket had been freshwater back then.
Gibbs told Jack that he needed to dress. His first mate already had Carina in a brand new dress. Good man that Gibbs. Jack would have to thank him later. As long as he remembers to. Gibbs took Carina's hand and picks up a suitcase that Jack doesn't remember seeing before.
"Take the lead Jack. We don't know the path like you." Gibbs turns away from the Captain, refusing to look at him.
Was he mad? That's odd. Jack thought Gibbs knew him by now. Was he not expecting him to turn to the bottle when facing a such a harrowing task. Carina was happy, she was besides herself with excitement.
"Do you think the other kids will be nice Gibbs? When will I get to learn about stars Uncle Jack? When will you come visit? How long does school last? You will come back and visit, right Uncle Jack. Gibbs will you make sure Uncle Jack looks nice when he comes back? You have to, too."
"Aye we will Carina. I swear." Mr. Gibbs promises.
"Of course we will." Jack joins in, picking Carina up by her arms and spinning her onto his shoulders. "Nothing could stop the great Captain Jack and his crew from coming to rescue our dearest Carina!" He yells catching himself from falling back.
Jack pretends that he did that on purpose to try and psych her out. As he continues to wobble around in the streets from side to side. They continue on like that all the way to the school. Jack taking a few detours that Gibbs could not prove took them longer.
"Remember the rules." Gibbs insists as Jack shakes his head.
"Relax Mr. Gibbs. Carina is the smartest, um, child I know. She will do fine." Especially away from us. Jack holds his tongue on the afterthought. This was for the best. A life away from pirates and when she was older she can choose if she would like to stay with them or not. No matter what she decided, Jack would still come back. For she may have been Barbossa's star, but she was Jack's little sweetling.
"There's the school right ahead." Jack points out. To which Carina insists to be let down. Jack complies. The girl he had spent the last five years raising takes running off towards the giant buildings. Children were in the front yard, some with friends, some with parents. Jack was amused by her excitement.
"I never thought she would take so much to school." He admits to his old friend.
"Especially since you were so against it."
"The day I stayed in school was the day my aunt came along and kept me there."
"Or your father." Gibbs adds, remembering a much smaller Jack. One almost the same age as the girl he watches run ahead of them.
"Gibbs watch after her."
"Isn't that your job sir?" Gibbs asks side-eyeing Jack.
"Just do it." The captain orders stomping ahead of his first mate. Jack's life was too unpredictable to know what would happen in the future.
"Uncle Jack! Uncle Jack!" Carina calls out his name. Jack wonders when will be the next time he would hear her voice calling out his name like that. In this moment the girl he raised was so happy, and Jack wanted her to stay that way forever.
Patting her head dear, old Uncle Jack smiles down. "Let's find your room."