Day Two

I woke up very early the next morning, and went out in the main room. Whoa, it's still dark outside! Jack's still on the sofa, and Mother's probably in bed. Good, that'll give me enough time. I slipped outside and started running down the hill behind our house. I was going to the village, and would buy Mother something nice for letting me go. But what would she want? I had about an hour, and that's plenty of time. But when I got to the bottom, there was Mother. She was just standing there, staring out at the sea. I didn't know she did that, and now I wonder how often it happens. Every day? Probably not. I usually get up before her. Wait, she's saying something. I knew it was really rude of me, but I listened to what she was saying.

"And now Jack wants to take Willie away for a year." Wait, is she talking about me?

"I didn't want him to go, but I decided it was all for the better. Would you have let him? Oh, I already know your answer, yes, you would. You don't need to tell me. I'll talk to you tomorrow, Will." No way, Will? That's my father, she comes out here and talks to him? He's been dead for what, 9 years now? So why does she come talk to him? I'm not going to ask her, that would be rude. Oh wait, she's turning around. Better hide before she sees me. I dove into the tall grass, and luckily she didn't see me. Mother walked back up the path, and I scrambled towards the village. Only a handful of the shops were open, so it was slim pickings. I saw one shop that sold dresses. Mother only has two or three dresses, maybe I'll get her one of those. Trying to get inside, I realized I couldn't. The shop was closed. Oh look! A jewelry store. It's open too. I walked inside and the shopkeeper looked at me. The first thing I noticed about him was that he was tall and skinny. And he wasn't old at all. He couldn't have been older than 20! At least he wouldn't be to hard to fight if I had to. Oh, darn it all, I forgot to change into something else. Hopefully I don't look to much like a pirate. I wondered why, and then it hit me. I was a lot younger then anybody else who came in here. I gave the guy a little wave, and he didn't look to happy at all. I quickly walked over to the necklaces, and started looking. 30 shillings?! That was nearly all my money! And that's the least expensive one too! Deciding that I probably shouldn't get a necklace, I walked over to the bracelets. They were at least as expensive as the necklaces. I slipped over to the rings, and finally found the perfect gift. It was 10 shillings, and was a plain band. I knew Mother would like it. I picked it up and carried it over to the man. He rolled his eyes.

"Does your mother know your out?" I nodded.

"This is a present for her." I carefully counted out ten shillings from my bag. "Do you think she'll like it?"

He smiled. That was a good sign.

"Of course she will like it. I thought you were a pirate, dressed like that." I looked at my clothing. I guess I did look like a pirate.

"Yeah, it's just something I'm trying out. I mean, the clothing, not being a pirate." The man laughed at this.

"I like you already. What's your name, sonny?"

"Willie. Willie Turner, nice to meet you." The tall boy smiled.

"My name would be Aron. It's nice to meet you too." I smiled back at him.

"Well I gotta be going now, Mother will be wondering where I am. Bye!" He waved at me as I ran off. I was almost to the path that goes up the hill when I remembered something. I had forgotten Mother's ring! I turned and ran as fast as I could back to the village. Finding the jewelry shop, I dashed inside. Aron was still there, and he laughed.

"I think you forgot something!" He held up a little blue cloth bag.

"Yeah, I was almost home when I realized I didn't have it." I walked over to him and he handed it to me.

"Now run along, and give it to your mother. She'll like it, I tell you. Now go!" I nodded and ran out the door. I stopped to put the bag in my pocket, and then ran as quickly as possible up the hill. I stopped right outside the door, and wiped my face on my sleeve. Looking back towards the village, I saw the church clock said 6:00. That's when Mother normally gets up, so I better hurry. I slipped inside the door, and there was Mother. Oops, I'm in trouble now.

"Would you care to share where you went, Willie?" Oh, darn. I should have left a little earlier.

"Um, well, I decided to go down to the village and do a couple things." I found myself looking at the floor. Why do I always do that when I'm in trouble? At least Jack isn't awake. I would DIE if he was. Oh crap, there he was. It looked like he had just woken up.

"And do what?" Why, oh why do I always have to spell EVERYTHING out?

"Um, I wanted to get you something because I'm leaving." I hope I'm not in to much trouble. What if she doesn't let me go?! Mother was about to say something, but Jack cut her off.

"Now Lizzie, it's clear that all the lad wanted to do was get you a going away present, savvy? Now accept the gift, and we'll be on our way." He's been on my side the whole time! Huzzah!! Mother looked like she was about to argue, but then started to cry. Not loudly, just tears started running down her cheeks. Jack looked a little uncomfortable, then looked at me. I had walked over to Mother and hugged her. I came all the way up to her chin already.

"If you're going to go, then go. Don't make this hard on me." I looked at Jack, who looked back at me. He walked over and gave Mother a hug too. At that moment, one of the pirates (I think Jack said his name was Gibbs, but I don't really remember) came up to the door.

"Jack, we need to be going. There's a storm a comin', and we're going to be caught if we don't get moving." Jack looked over at the pirate.

"We'll be there in a bit." The pirate then left. I wonder if the rest of the crew knew I was coming. Jack hugged Mother one last time, as did I. She kissed me on my forehead, then my cheek.

"You've always had soft skin, Willie. Take good care of it." She didn't want to talk about me leaving, so I just hugged her even tighter. She hugged me back, and then unwrapped my arms from around her.

"It's time for you to go, now go!" We both were crying now. Jack motioned towards the door with his head, and we left. I stopped crying about half-way down the path, and I could tell Jack was relieved. He didn't say anything the whole way down, but neither did I, so I can't condemn him for something I didn't do either. We climbed aboard the ship, and Jack showed me where I would sleep. The hammock would be more than a little difficult to get used to!! Jack took me back out on deck, where he left me to the care of Mr. Gibbs. Mr. Gibbs didn't seem to particularly happy to have me following him around, but I just couldn't stop following him. Jack had told me to. All Mr. Gibbs really did was tell the other crew members what to do, and drink out of his little bottle.

Five hours later

I had been running around with Mr. Gi-, I mean, Gibbs all day. Now it was dark, and nearly my bedtime. Well, the bedtime that I had at home. I was tired, but it didn't look like the pirates were going to bed anytime soon. I knew the pirates would probably laugh at me if I asked to go to bed, so I didn't. Jack beckoned me over, and I obediently went. He handed me a bottle of rum.

"Take this to Pintel over there." He gestured, but it was in the general direction of a group of pirates. He was too drunk to take notice of anything, so I walked over there. They were laughing, and singing, and dancing, but not the kind Mother taught me. It was loud, and wild. I didn't say anything, I just held the bottle. When they finally noticed me, they were all laughing. A short fat one with no shirt on leaned in close.

"What do ye need, kid?" Eww, his breath stank!!

"Um, Ja-, the captain sent me to give this to, um, Pintel." They all laughed again, but it was a good-natured laugh.

"That's me, right here." It was the short fat one, and I handed him the bottle.

"Thank ye, sonny!! So, what's yer name?" He propelled me in the direction of a couple of barrels.

"Uh, William. William Turner, but you can just call me William." The pirate, Pintel, laughed.

"I knew ya was related to Turner!! 'E's your father, right?" I nodded. This man was making me feel weird, and I felt relieved when Gibbs walked over.

"C'mon, William. Your mother told Jack to have you in bed by a decent hour, and it's far past that. Come along, now!! Step to." I walked along behind Gibbs, and he walked all the way to my hammock with me.

"Now sleep tight, and I'll see ya in the mornin'." I nodded, and he left, taking the light with him. As I thought back on my day, I realized that I rather enjoyed it. I wasn't going to fall asleep until the other pirates came, but sleep claimed me before I even started to think about anything.

Chapter two of what I hope will be 365. Hope you enjoyed!!