Pirate’s Life for Me

Chapter 1: The Life
Most people think that the life of a pirate is led by a black – heartened psycho. Well let me tell you this people… you are dead wrong. When you are a pirate, you are led by a responsible captain (and that’s when you are lucky). You go through storms, food shortage, and even some lashings every now and then. Even some – well now wait a minuet, I forgot to introduce myself! For my name is Johnny Peck, now known as Joaquin Montez, and I am a powder boy upon this here ship, the Olde Lassey. But don’t think that because I am a powder boy I walk around looking like a maiden, nay! A powder boy is a lad that has to fill the cannons with powder, but it’s not as easy as it looks! Dodging bullets and cannonballs and flashing swords, it’s a risky business! But my does it pay. Why don’t I tell you how a lad like myself became a powder boy today.
“Jo-o-o-hnny! Johnny Peck where did you go off to!?” said Anne. Anne is my mother. She says calling her “mother” makes her feel like she is younger than she is, so she wants me to call her Anne.
“I’m right here I’m right here!! Jeeze!” I shouted, running up our hill.
“Where were you!? Didn’t I send you out to find a job?”
“Yes you did send me out, I went into town and then down by the creek”
“Well then sir, did you find a job?”
I looked down and started to scrape my foot against the dirt ground, “No ma’am. I didn’t find work.” When I looked back up she had her hands on her hips and my did it look like I was going to get a beating tonight.
“My god Johnny your fifteen! Fifteen! Now how old is Old Lady Lispy’s son? Fourteen is he now?” I took a couple steps back. Her face was as red as the ripest Strawberry in season and I thought she was about to blow.
“Yes ma’am he is. But nobody wants me to work for them! Besides, I’m going down into town again tomorrow to watch Lothair get burned at the stake. I’ll try again I promise!”
Lothair went in to a house that had a young maiden about sixteen living within it. Well, he must have gotten bored with her or something ‘cause basically, the whole town heard her blood-shedding scream. Anne told me to stay put in my room but I was to curious. You know the saying “Curiosity kills the cat”? Well, I know how that cat feels.
I took the short-cut that only I knew about. That short-cut would lead up to the middle of town and near where the young maiden lived. I was the first one to the house and nearly threw up. I saw the young maiden laying in the yard, covered in her own blood, and a man (who I now know as Lothair) running away covered in blood as well. The trial was held and he was guilty as charged. Like I just told Anne, he will be burned at the stake tomorrow.
“Well, you better find a job tomorrow! I don’t care what it is as long as it pays well.” Anne continued. “I can’t go on selling vegetables all year, it doesn’t pay enough.”
“Alright, alright! How about this, I won’t come home until I find a job?”
“Fine, but I better see you home tomorrow!” right as she finished that she spun on her heels and went into the house.
Great, now I have to find a job while I’m trying to have some fun? Tomorrow will definitely be an exciting day. I sat down on the first step of our porch and thought a while. Wondering what crazy job I’m going to get tomorrow. Watching as the sun set fast, I got up and went into the house to eat dinner then go to bed. I mean after all, he will be burned at sunrise so I should be well rested.



Chapter 2: My Time
Slowly, I got out of bed the next morning, watching the night sky.
“Just a little longer, until Lothair dies. Wonder what he’s thinking…” I sort of dozed off after that. My body wanted more rest but my mind was racing, telling me to get up and go. Finally after about fifteen minuets, I was able to swing my legs out of bed and force myself to get up. Looking out at the sky was what hurried me to get my tunic and pants on. Slowly, I could start to see pink in the sky, which means the sun was coming soon.
Running downstairs, I left an apple on the table telling Anne that I was out. I grabbed my bag and stuffed bread, oranges, and my skin. I had to run to the well in the back to fill it with water ‘cause I could tell this will be a long journey. Running through the short cut, he wanted to make sure he got a good view. Luckily when I got there, there were only about ten people there and there was plenty of room. Looking at the sky once more, I realized that it was sun rise and the burning would begin soon.
Jumping at a sound that reminded me of a cannon, I looked around to see what made that noise. As I looked down an alley, I saw a drum coming and soldiers right behind it, followed by the chained and vile, Lothair. I noticed that at that as soon as the drum sounded, children and adults alike came spilling out onto the streets.
Very violently, the soldiers chained and lashed Lothair to the stake, setting hay around the bottom so he would catch fire faster.
Clapping began as the King and Queen of Spain made there way down the alley. The King raised his scepter and the crowd went quiet.
“Today, this man will be burned at the stake! For the murder of maiden Cecilia Buerno, he will face his death. If anybody at all believes that this man should live, you will be set upon the stake with this man as well! Does anyone stand up for this man?” The King looked around the crowd, seeing that he was correct and that not one man would let this man live.
“Excellent! Then, Lothair of France, do you have any last words before you are burned?”
Everyone turned to face Lothair, even the King and Queen.
“Vous mourrez tous par la suite ! La mort ne sera jamais amortie ! Vous mourrez tous ! Tous - Ahhh !” Lothair was quickly silenced from his negativity when the fire started up his leg. The screaming would never be ceased until he was dead. Mothers cover the children’s eyes as they watched him suffer. Ten minuets passed and the screaming had finally ceased. His death had come and passed and all that was left was a burned form of him.
As I turned to walk away from the scene, I noticed a large ship sitting in the port. Made out of the most glamorous cherry wood I have ever seen, I thought it was from India. Three large off-white sails with holes in them were upon it and a sea blue flag flew upon the crow’s nest. With jet-black cannons sticking out the side, circular windows on the side I could see, and men swinging from ropes from one sail to another repairing damage, I don’t think I could have missed it.
“Was that there before?” I was talking to myself but it seems that someone over heard me.
“No lad that was not. That there is my ship, Olde Lassey. I’m a pirate captain and I’m looking for more crew. You seem interested in that ship there.” I broke off the contact with the ship to look at who was talking. Now, it was hard to take my eyes off of her. She had on a red bandanna and had about waist length brownish-black hair that swept across her pale face. She had beads in two strips of hair that were blue like the flag upon her ship. She was about as tall as me, maybe a little taller and looked a little older than me. She had on a black leather corset and a red peasant blouse on underneath it. She had on black pants and a red sheer scarf wrapped around the top of it. She had a large cutlass at her side in a black leather sheath with gold embedded French words on it. Wait a minuet, aren’t most captains men? Oh no…
“I – I – yeah” I stuttered, “I am pretty interested. Are you sure that is your ship? I mean, aren’t most captains –“
“Guys? Yeah I know I get that a lot. But yeah I guess I am used to it. You got a job lad?”
“Nah, I was sent out looking for one and not allowed home till I find one. Why do you know where I can get one?”
“That all depends, would you mind not being home for a couple of years?”
“Nah, I would mind the least.”
She grabbed my hand and started shaking it as soon as I finished saying that.
“Then I have just found you a job! My name is Isabelle Fernandéz, captain of Olde Lassey. Welcome aboard my boy!”



Chapter 3: The Beginning of an End
As she was standing there, looking over me after she shook my hand, my mind was boggling with words, ideas, and what to tell Anne. She would be proud that I fond a job, but being away for so long could frighten her. I stopped thinking as I noticed she was trying to get my attention.
“Alright lad, what’s on your mind?” she asked rather quickly, “As you can see my ship is done with repairs so we are going to head out. I’ll let you ask three questions, then I’ll go to your home with ya and we will get packing. Got that?”
“Yeah, got it. Okay, first off, how old are you?”
“Seventeen. Next.”
Seventeen!? Wow, she was only two years older than me, no wonder she looks my age.
“Second, where are you from?”
“Difficult question you asked, though I saw it coming since my name is Spanish and I have French upon my sheath. I am of the Spanish race. I learned French while traveling. One of my crew members is French so I need to translate. Last question.”
“What will I be doing on the ship for two years?”
“That laddie will be a surprise” she winked at me when she said that. “Now let us hurry and get to your house, oh but first, what is your name?”
“Johnny, Johnny Peck.”
“Well, we will have to think of a Spanish name for you since you are joining my crew. How about… Joaquin?”
“But, doesn’t that mean prepared?”
“Very good! At least you know some Spanish. It will suit your job on the ship. Trust me.”
As we started walking, I couldn’t help but to notice how she glided across the ground. I decided that we shouldn’t take the short cut so I could warn her about Anne.
“Right now she has a high temper so try not to say much.”
“I won’t I won’t, sheesh!”
I couldn’t believe I was going to trust letting Anne. But, we need to go and fast. After about ten minuets, we were there. Anne was on the front porch staring into the woods.
“Hello Anne! I found a job.” I shouted at her.
“Good John-“ As soon as she saw Isabelle, her jaw dropped.



Chapter 4: The Hello and Good - Bye
“Oh right, Anne, this is Isabelle. She is the captain of the ship I will be going on for maybe a couple of years. I figured you wouldn’t mind.” I said as I replied to her expression.
Isabelle shot her hand out, “The name is Isabelle Fernandéz, captain of Olde Lassey. I saw that your boy Johnny here was interested in my ship and I offered him a job of two years or more. He seemed stunned but took the offer. I hope ya won’t mind ma’am.”
Anne finally realized that Isabelle’s hand was out for her to shake it. Slowly, she took it and shook.
“Well then Johnny, I hope you have a fun time. Now what are you doing here?”
“Oh right we came here to pack some of my things for the trip. We will be right out.”
I started running for the house but forgot to tell Isabelle to come. I turned around and waved my hand to tell her to hurry up and come on. It seems that she knew what I meant because she was in the house before me.
The inside of my house isn’t that great. Two stories, fireplace, on chair and one table, two rooms, ****** kitchen, and two hay like beds. My clothes are always in a pile next to my bed so it was not hard to grab what I needed.
“See, Joaquin, to me, this is paradise. You will miss this place, being on a ship for so long, but –“
“Trust me Isabelle, I won’t miss this place. Sometimes, I try not to come home.”
I reached over and grabbed two peasant shirts and two pants.
“Uh… what are you doing with that?” Isabelle questioned me.
“Well you told me to come pack right? So I am packing, what do I like not need clothes?”
“Now those you won’t need, I already have a uniform for you.”
I wondered what I would be forced into, rags worse than this, nothing at all except for a loin cloth? I started to throw all of my stuff back to the corner when I turned to face her.
“What should I pack then?”
“Boxes, we need to find barrels or boxes. You will need a lot of money, and ammo or anything useful. You got any of that?”
I slowly walked over to a painting I did hung on the wall. I took it down to reveal a patch like over that hole. I took my elbow and slammed into it. In there, I had stashed three fist sized like bags of gold. I took them all out and handed them to her.
“Will this be enough? We can’t let my mo- , Anne I mean, know about this though. She will go crazy knowing I had all this money the whole time. “
“I-I-I, wow. Joaquin, how did you get all of this!?” She looked at me like I was a crook, “You didn’t steal this, did you?”
“Ha-ha no I did not. I have saved it since like ever. For all the work I do around the house, I lie and say I spent it on stuff for me. But will it be enough?”
“Oh gosh yeah it will be enough. Now, get some old large cloths and boxes or barrels. Flint if you can find some. Meet me in the front yard when you are done.”
“But where will you put the coins so Anne doesn’t see them?”
“I know a place. Don’t worry, just go!”
I left her in my room and dashed downstairs to the kitchen. Luckily, we had a bunch of flint so my mother would never know it was missing. I grabbed about five pieces, just in case. As I heard Isabelle storming down the stairs, she asked one question.
“Joaquin, can ya cook?”
“Yeah I can cook a real good roast and potatoes and squash. Why?”
“You have two jobs on the ship. Also, are you fast?”
“Yeah why?”
“It’s for your first job. When you got everything, we will race, no short cuts, to the dock. You will carry the items and I will carry the gold. Got it?”
As unfair as that sounded, I had to agree or else we would never leave. When she walked out the door, I got back to getting the cloths. Running to the closet, I took two brownish-tan sheets to put everything in. The were literally three times the size as me.
“I hope these work, they are the biggest I got.”
Running to the back yard, I grabbed three large brown barrels from where out meat is kept. ‘Anne can always get more’ I thought to myself.
Stuffing the flint and cloth into the barrels, I shut them and carried to two through the house. Stopping in the kitchen once more, I took all of Anne’s spices.
“I’m the one that cooks not you Anne. So I will take these.”
Hurriedly I stuffed the spices into the barrel, closed it, and grabbed my bag with the fruit, bread, and water filled skin and headed out the door. I didn’t see Anne in sight but that okay. She is on more thing to slow me down. I walked next to Isabelle, showing her the barrels and its contents.
“Good, now put one on each shoulder.”
Obviously I did as she said.
“Now, get ready, get set, go!”
We both started racing down the hill. She was a little faster than me, but not for long. She seemed to use all of her energy and I ran straight past her as she stopped and started to heavily breathe. I looked ad thought about helping her, but then she started coming up fast again. I sprinted and took off. Five minuets later, I was there at the dock. She was a little bit behind me but I still beat her.



Chapter 5: Welcome Aboard!
“You did extremely well for a boy your age. How old are you?”
“I’m fifteen. Two years younger than you.”
“Wow! You are good then. Surely, I thought you were at least nineteen. Huh… you will do well. Now, is there a meat store around here?”
“Yeah, why”
She handed me one of the bags of gold, “Give me all of the contents in the barrels. Fill them both with beef and poultry. Take one blanket and put vegetables in it and put bread in another. Got that?”
I gave her all of the flint,
“Yes ma’am. But won’t I need the salt?”
She handed me another bag of gold, “Ask for Benny. Tell his Isabelle Fernandéz sent you and get it pre-salted.”
Turning around, I started to run off to the meat store which was only twenty paces away. I ran into the meat store and told them exactly what Isabella told me.
“You want to see Benny?” asked the meat clerk.
“Yeah, Isabelle Fernandéz sent me.”
He looked at me, stunned when I said that name.
“Benny! Get out here! Isabelle sent another one for more!”
Some man in his late thirties came running out from the back room.
“Let me guess, everything pre-salted, two barrels of meat, and two sheets full of fruit?” sad Benn.
“Actually, two sheets of vegetables, but that was close.”
“Twenty gold coins.”
I handed him one of the bags of coins. I forgot how many coins were in each bag so I let him count twenty.
“You save all of this kid?”
“Yes sir, every last coin. Since for like ever.”
“Tell Isabelle that she has a good kid working for her and that the payment is on me.” He pulled down the hat he was wearing and winked at me. “You have a good trip and tell Isabella the same for me okay?”
“Yeah got it, thanks!”
I grabbed the two barrels and brought them outside. Then I spun on my heal, nearly falling, and went in for my money and the vegetables. Struggling, I finally made it out with everything. Putting my hands on my knees and breathing hard, I nearly fainted.
“Man Joaquin do we need to whip you into shape. Why do you still have two full bags of gold coins?”
“He said – that he – would pay – for it all. Said to – wish us luck – even you.” I said, taking breaths in between.
I looked up and noticed she leaned to be able to look into the door; she leaned back into her normal place, smiling like it was her birthday.
“You ready to go? ‘Cause you’re going to need to haul all of that onto the boat. Or, I can carry the veggies and you haul the barrels of meat. Deal?” she literally lifted my chin until we were looking eye to eye.
“Yeah, yeah, deal. You go ahead… I’ll be right behind you.”
“Fine, but you better hurry.”
As she went to go get the food, I wonder who Benny was to Isabelle, or who Isabelle was to Benny. Oh well, she was already five paces in front of me and I needed to hurry. Hoisting the barrels onto my shoulders, I paced off to catch up with Isabelle. About twenty paces later, we were aboard the dock to the ship. I set both barrels down and rolled them up the plank. As I reached the top, two large muscular men bent down and picked them up with no trouble at all. The had red and blue bandannas like Isabelle but had tattoos all over them! One had a large gold hoop in one ear and another had on only pants and a small dagger between his teeth.
“What in the world did I get myself into?” Obviously, I was talking to myself and once again, someone heard me.
“You good fella just joined a group of pirates, and there’s no turning back now.” Replied the man with the gold hoop. I turned around to see that the plank I was just standing on was on the dock and we were set out for sea.
“Yes Joaquin, you just joined a group of pirates!”
I looked up to see who was talking and there was Isabelle, hanging from one of the shrouds with her cut lass flashing in her free hand.
“You are Joaquin Montez, the new powder-boy upon my here ship! You will load the cannons, clean them, and you will even cook for us sometimes. This is Olde Lassey,” she stopped to put her cutlass in her teeth, catch a rope coming by and grab on to it. She swung upon it and landed in front of me.
“And I am the Captain! Isabelle Fernandéz,” she got real close to my face, “Welcome aboard this ship my boy.”

wow! awesome story i cant wait till more