Day 24
It's been about three months since my last entry.
I found that Don, Chip's old man, has been beating the kid. I wanted to intervene but Chip wouldn't let me. He insists that he could handle it. Tough little man.
But he's been sleeping over at my place more often now. I don't mind, the kid really makes things livelier. He also likes to hear stories about the time I spent in Grand Line. It's the only time I've ever talked about...them.
Anyway, I got back a little late from fishing today and ran into Chip along the way. His old man was really drunk again, so I let him stay over at my place again. We grilled some fish and talked about stuff.
He asked me why I shaved my moustache.
I remember during my first few weeks here, I forgot about it and let it grow for a bit. George that grumpy old sack actually cracked up when he saw it. I never forgot to shave ever since. Anyway Chip seemed to like it.
He doesn't know that it reminded me of...them.
Anyway, I told him that it made me look old.
"But it's so cool!" he said. "If you started a pirate crew, it can be part of you flag! You could call yourself...Whitebeard!"
Whitebeard.
Feels a bit like rip-off on old Greybeard, but I like the way it sounds.
Never mind the fact that it doesn't make sense.
"But it's a moustache, Chip," I told him.
"Well, Whitebeard sounds better than White Moustache or Smiley Face doesn't it?"
Got to hand it to him, the kid knows how to argue his case.
Anyway, right now he's sleeping on my hammock. I can see the bruises on his arms; his father must've really beaten him bad.
I wish Chip would let me deal with Don.
How could anyone hit such a good kid?
