Book Three - Chapter Fourteen: Departure

The locals were quite excited about the arrangement. Everyone found Amelia to be quite pleasant and agreeable. An older woman was more than happy to make accommodations for the young woman, though she did not have much room herself to spare. The old woman, whom the natives called Tutu, doted over young Amelia and was fierce about keeping the young men at bay, even the members of Amelia's own crew. Captain Jack Sparrow had a hell of a time just trying to approach the hut, and was never allowed to enter it.

When it was time for the Pearl to set out again, Amelia sat back and watched the crew reloading the ship. The reality of being left behind was finally sinking in. She was not entirely alone, however. That one loan piglet had a habit of running away from its new owners and finding the young woman. The piglet sat in her lap like a kitten. Amelia fed it some of the fruit that she had been eating, too preoccupied in thought to be hungry herself.

Jack, who seldom assisted in loading anything to or from his ship, saw the young woman sitting there on the beach and sat next to her.

"Don't look so cheerful," he said sarcastically. Amelia's expression did not change. "You'll be alright, love," he said to her.

"I know I will be," she said. "I'll do my best not to pick too many fights here."

Jack laughed. "You best watch yourself. That old bat will whip you good, I can tell," he said.

Amelia laughed too.

"And you won't be completely alone," Jack said. "I see that your four legged friend has found you again."

"Yes, well, he's not the bravest pig in the world."

"Must be smart though, eh? Kpet from being eaten this long, ain't he?"

"Poor little pig," Amelia said. "Maybe I should give him a name. You can't eat something with a name."

"Sure you can," Jack said. He took a piece of sliced fruit and held it up. "I dub thee George Fruitsmith the first." After saying so he gobbled the piece up.

Amelia tried to keep from laughing.

"So what are you going to call the pig?"

"I'm not sure yet."

"Pork," Jack suggested.

"No."

"Porky?"

"No."

"Hammy?"

"No."

"Mr. Bacon?"

Amelia laughed.

"Jack, you're horrible."

"What? I'm helping," he said smugly.

Amelia picked the pig up from her lap and placed it on the ground beside her. The little pig sniffed around, looking for more food, grunting and swishing his little pink tail.

"You will come back for me, Jack, won't you?" she asked quietly.

"You know I will, love."

"You won't forget?"

"Not even possible," he said. "You just make sure that you're still here when I come back."

"Where could I possibly go?"

"Doesn't matter. I don't need you testing it out," he said.

Amelia put her head on his shoulder.

"You'll be alright, love," he said again. He kissed her head. "Nothing will change," he said. He took hold of her hand and kissed it tenderly. He then took a ring off of his pinkie finger and slid it onto Amelia's ring finger. The gesture startled Amelia at first, making her spring upright. He kissed her hand again. "I will come back for you," he said sincerely. Jack then placed his hand on her cheek and kissed her.

Amelia shed a single tear and turned her head quickly away to hide it. Jack had seen it and held her hand though she looked away.

"I can send word to your mother, if you like," he said to her. She faced him again. "Might be better coming from me than old Barbossa. I can't see him being received too well by her. And I'm sure that the smell of the others would be traumatizing enough for the old woman, eh?"

"Thank you, Jack. I'll write up a letter."

Amelia stood up and went back to the hut that would be her home for the next couple of months. The little pig followed close behind her heels. Jack continued to sit there, picking away at the pieces of fruit that had not been nibbled at by the little pink creature.

The ship was finally loaded and near ready to set sail. Amelia ran around to every crew member that she could get a hold of. The men were not the least bit happy about leaving her behind. Amelia gave and received many hugs and kissed many cheeks. Bootstrap Bill Turner gave her a long talk about taking care of herself. It seemed as though Bootstrap was taking it the hardest - the thought of leaving another child behind did not sit well with him. He gave her a great big warm hug.

Captain Jack Sparrow was the last to say farewell. He tried to seem indifferent about it. Amelia knew why and was not hurt by his discretion. She handed him the letter for her mother.

"I'll see to it," the captain said, putting it inside of his jacket.

"Take care of yourself, Captain," Amelia said.

Amelia watched the ship sail away into the horizon. She held the little pig in her arms and waved his front hoof as though the little pig were saying goodbye to the ship.

Jack stood up on the bow, watching the island get smaller and smaller. He felt his now naked finger. He could feel the groove in his skin from where his ring once was. There was something about feeling that bareness that comforted him, though it served only to physically represent the void he felt.

End of Book Three