silverblue
May 27th, 2009, 01:49 PM
Okay, so I'm only 13, so this isnt too good, but just read it and enjoy. I write short stories, and this one is one of them.
I sat, at the back of the cabin, sulking. I was bored out of my mind here, just scratching away at the sides of my fathers’ broken sail with his Quantum Machete, waiting until someone got sent down here to fix it. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep and I definitely didn’t want to talk to anyone, especially not Jack, an overenthusiastic “just hired” sailor boy. Yet I was trapped in here with him. As he burbled on about his cat that was thrown over the side of the ship, by the ship bully- Rowan Mattison. Rowan was only 2 years older than Jack and definitely less clever than him, Jack was still terrified of the boy. I started to wonder how long I was going to be on this boat and how unfair life was for the fact that I had no choice whatsoever about joining my father on this particular voyage.
Suddenly, the boat threw us to the side with a jolt, and I had to resolve to clinging onto whatever was closest. Jack’s chinchilla, Maurice, flew out of Jack’s pocket and landed in a spare pair of my brand new Mellissa’s Boutique shoes, and sat there for a while, wondering when it was safe to come out again. Jack shouted something, as I sat, shivering under the desk. Then I heard footsteps, then shouts. Lots of shouts. The wind has stopped blowing, the rain had stopped pouring, and it was almost silent. I slowly opened my eyes, one eye at a time. Is it possible to find something so astonishing, so mind blowing that you perhaps don’t believe it has happened at first? Well, that was how I was feeling at that moment. I stood on the deck, slightly leaning forwards with my ripped boots, amazed at the sight in front of me. It was an island, covered in beautiful, golden sand, waves, just gently lapping the surface, and trees covered in flowers and nature. As I looked up I also saw what lay above me. It was flawless sheet of blue sky, wrapping around the clouds and evaporating them, covering the skyline like a huge, blue blanket.
Fellow sailors jumped off the high ship, scampering across the sand, kissing the earth, dancing in the waves, shouting and laughing. Everyone was happy, laughing, singing and just generally having a good time. But something about this place didn’t feel safe. I felt as if maybe this was all too good to be true. We were sailors, shipmen, poor people, maybe a few hidden crooks on ship, and by experience on the ship, we had learnt one thing: nothing good ever stays with us. I felt slightly as if I didn’t want to step off the ship, as if maybe, if I did, it would float away and we’d be stuck here forever. But of course it wouldn’t float away, you fool I told myself we’re anchored down. Somehow my conscience didn’t seem to be very reassuring. After a little while of battle with myself, I decided to jump off and join in with the fun, and stop being such a party-pooper.
I hopped off the boat, and went to look for Jack, as I couldn’t find him on the beach. I pushed my way through the trees, occasionally bumping into branches and getting my foot stuck in smelly substances. Then, I saw a parting in the trees. It was an entrance (or exit?). I slowly slid towards it, keeping quiet in case of animals that could be dangerous. As the trees parted, all I saw was a plain stretch of land, long, hot and wide. Very wide. There was silence on the island, no annoying birds or buzzing bugs, just silence. Then it all went black.
When I gained consciousness again, still dizzy, the sound came flooding back. But the memories of what had just happened didn’t. I gazed around, to see that I seemed to be tied to a chair. With fabric on my mouth. Okay, correction, as I investigated my state further, I seemed to be tied to some kind of totem pole. Uh oh. Had I just been... kidnapped? I tried to struggle my way out of this entrapment, but unsuccessfully. Then, a face appeared. It was smug, an older man, probably in his forties or maybe even sixties, I couldn’t tell. “Hello, child” he said. “How are you feeling? Replenished?” I tried to muffle an answer, but (being gagged) couldn’t. “Ah, I forgot. We gagged you didn’t we?” the man slid the gag down by my neck, giving me some freedom of speech. “We?” I yelled. “There’s more of you girl-stealing FREAKS?” The man smirked and crouched onto his knees to get to my height. I now had more information about him- he had bad breath and a face that probably hadn’t been shaved for about 20 odd weeks, giving the exception that he was getting on a bit, his dark hair turning grey.
“Actually, not that I'm offended by that in any way, we are not girl stealing freaks, we are also boy stealing...freaks.” he replied. I sniggered at that last bit, but then suddenly it hit me like a ton of bricks. They had Jack, didn’t they? “Where’s Jack?” I immediately answered. “Well,” he said “he is not going to be here much longer, so goodbyes won’t be necessary.” I shivered in disgust “..Unless you give us what we want.” I stared at him long enough to realise he wasn’t joking around. He meant business. “What do you want?” I ask, trying to stay strong and at least act brave. “We know your father is a very successful crook.” He said, his eyes burning into mine. “WHAT? My Dad’s not a crook!” “Well, at least I don’t... think he is. I mean, he does have a lot of money and gold and expensive clothes and people hate him and...” The man was nodding sarcastically throughout this. “Fine” I sighed. “What do you want with him?”As if this was a trigger, lines of tribal men piled inside, their spears at their sides. “Listen closely sunshine..” he said
So, here I was, doing something so shameful, it stung to think about it. It turned out that Don Caliver (the old guy) and dad knew each other way back before I even existed and they were treasure hunters together. But, knowing dad, he never kept to his promises, and when they finally found some treasure, dad legged it, treasure at hand. And now he was going to have to pay. At least I was getting Jack back, safe and alive, and permitting my own freedom. We took positions, as planned and got ready. From Don’s point of view, it looked like we were on his side. But I had other plans. Just as my father strolled past, we leapt into action. The men grabbed his sides and held him solidly. I blushed, trying not to catch my father’s oh-so trusting eyes. “So, Alexander Black, we meet again” snarled Don. “I want the money and I want it now.” Dad didn’t pretend he didn’t know what Don was talking about, but shrugged, defiantly. “Okay, Fine. You give me your amythest and I’ll give you the map for Ontreal. Yes, that island that you NEED to find.” He told dad. He put up a good deal. “Okay” said dad. “Take out the map. But, here’s my side of the deal. Your men let go of me, and you get the amythest without argument- for the map, that is.” Don shrugged, and signalled to his men to let Dad go. Slowly, Don got the map out his pocket and handed it over. “Okay, now where’s the Amythest?” he asked, hands stretched out. “Three, Two, One...”I whispered “LEG IT!” I screamed, and suddenly, we all flew back, down the beach, yelling at the sailors to follow us, fast. We scrambled back on the boat and, with Don in sight, sailed away, laughing.
Who knows if we’ll ever get to Ontreal, maybe, maybe not. But, we are making progress, and Jack and I are better friends than ever. I love my dad, maybe he is a crook, but that won’t change how much I adore him. With him, it’s just one whirlwind adventure after another.
I sat, at the back of the cabin, sulking. I was bored out of my mind here, just scratching away at the sides of my fathers’ broken sail with his Quantum Machete, waiting until someone got sent down here to fix it. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep and I definitely didn’t want to talk to anyone, especially not Jack, an overenthusiastic “just hired” sailor boy. Yet I was trapped in here with him. As he burbled on about his cat that was thrown over the side of the ship, by the ship bully- Rowan Mattison. Rowan was only 2 years older than Jack and definitely less clever than him, Jack was still terrified of the boy. I started to wonder how long I was going to be on this boat and how unfair life was for the fact that I had no choice whatsoever about joining my father on this particular voyage.
Suddenly, the boat threw us to the side with a jolt, and I had to resolve to clinging onto whatever was closest. Jack’s chinchilla, Maurice, flew out of Jack’s pocket and landed in a spare pair of my brand new Mellissa’s Boutique shoes, and sat there for a while, wondering when it was safe to come out again. Jack shouted something, as I sat, shivering under the desk. Then I heard footsteps, then shouts. Lots of shouts. The wind has stopped blowing, the rain had stopped pouring, and it was almost silent. I slowly opened my eyes, one eye at a time. Is it possible to find something so astonishing, so mind blowing that you perhaps don’t believe it has happened at first? Well, that was how I was feeling at that moment. I stood on the deck, slightly leaning forwards with my ripped boots, amazed at the sight in front of me. It was an island, covered in beautiful, golden sand, waves, just gently lapping the surface, and trees covered in flowers and nature. As I looked up I also saw what lay above me. It was flawless sheet of blue sky, wrapping around the clouds and evaporating them, covering the skyline like a huge, blue blanket.
Fellow sailors jumped off the high ship, scampering across the sand, kissing the earth, dancing in the waves, shouting and laughing. Everyone was happy, laughing, singing and just generally having a good time. But something about this place didn’t feel safe. I felt as if maybe this was all too good to be true. We were sailors, shipmen, poor people, maybe a few hidden crooks on ship, and by experience on the ship, we had learnt one thing: nothing good ever stays with us. I felt slightly as if I didn’t want to step off the ship, as if maybe, if I did, it would float away and we’d be stuck here forever. But of course it wouldn’t float away, you fool I told myself we’re anchored down. Somehow my conscience didn’t seem to be very reassuring. After a little while of battle with myself, I decided to jump off and join in with the fun, and stop being such a party-pooper.
I hopped off the boat, and went to look for Jack, as I couldn’t find him on the beach. I pushed my way through the trees, occasionally bumping into branches and getting my foot stuck in smelly substances. Then, I saw a parting in the trees. It was an entrance (or exit?). I slowly slid towards it, keeping quiet in case of animals that could be dangerous. As the trees parted, all I saw was a plain stretch of land, long, hot and wide. Very wide. There was silence on the island, no annoying birds or buzzing bugs, just silence. Then it all went black.
When I gained consciousness again, still dizzy, the sound came flooding back. But the memories of what had just happened didn’t. I gazed around, to see that I seemed to be tied to a chair. With fabric on my mouth. Okay, correction, as I investigated my state further, I seemed to be tied to some kind of totem pole. Uh oh. Had I just been... kidnapped? I tried to struggle my way out of this entrapment, but unsuccessfully. Then, a face appeared. It was smug, an older man, probably in his forties or maybe even sixties, I couldn’t tell. “Hello, child” he said. “How are you feeling? Replenished?” I tried to muffle an answer, but (being gagged) couldn’t. “Ah, I forgot. We gagged you didn’t we?” the man slid the gag down by my neck, giving me some freedom of speech. “We?” I yelled. “There’s more of you girl-stealing FREAKS?” The man smirked and crouched onto his knees to get to my height. I now had more information about him- he had bad breath and a face that probably hadn’t been shaved for about 20 odd weeks, giving the exception that he was getting on a bit, his dark hair turning grey.
“Actually, not that I'm offended by that in any way, we are not girl stealing freaks, we are also boy stealing...freaks.” he replied. I sniggered at that last bit, but then suddenly it hit me like a ton of bricks. They had Jack, didn’t they? “Where’s Jack?” I immediately answered. “Well,” he said “he is not going to be here much longer, so goodbyes won’t be necessary.” I shivered in disgust “..Unless you give us what we want.” I stared at him long enough to realise he wasn’t joking around. He meant business. “What do you want?” I ask, trying to stay strong and at least act brave. “We know your father is a very successful crook.” He said, his eyes burning into mine. “WHAT? My Dad’s not a crook!” “Well, at least I don’t... think he is. I mean, he does have a lot of money and gold and expensive clothes and people hate him and...” The man was nodding sarcastically throughout this. “Fine” I sighed. “What do you want with him?”As if this was a trigger, lines of tribal men piled inside, their spears at their sides. “Listen closely sunshine..” he said
So, here I was, doing something so shameful, it stung to think about it. It turned out that Don Caliver (the old guy) and dad knew each other way back before I even existed and they were treasure hunters together. But, knowing dad, he never kept to his promises, and when they finally found some treasure, dad legged it, treasure at hand. And now he was going to have to pay. At least I was getting Jack back, safe and alive, and permitting my own freedom. We took positions, as planned and got ready. From Don’s point of view, it looked like we were on his side. But I had other plans. Just as my father strolled past, we leapt into action. The men grabbed his sides and held him solidly. I blushed, trying not to catch my father’s oh-so trusting eyes. “So, Alexander Black, we meet again” snarled Don. “I want the money and I want it now.” Dad didn’t pretend he didn’t know what Don was talking about, but shrugged, defiantly. “Okay, Fine. You give me your amythest and I’ll give you the map for Ontreal. Yes, that island that you NEED to find.” He told dad. He put up a good deal. “Okay” said dad. “Take out the map. But, here’s my side of the deal. Your men let go of me, and you get the amythest without argument- for the map, that is.” Don shrugged, and signalled to his men to let Dad go. Slowly, Don got the map out his pocket and handed it over. “Okay, now where’s the Amythest?” he asked, hands stretched out. “Three, Two, One...”I whispered “LEG IT!” I screamed, and suddenly, we all flew back, down the beach, yelling at the sailors to follow us, fast. We scrambled back on the boat and, with Don in sight, sailed away, laughing.
Who knows if we’ll ever get to Ontreal, maybe, maybe not. But, we are making progress, and Jack and I are better friends than ever. I love my dad, maybe he is a crook, but that won’t change how much I adore him. With him, it’s just one whirlwind adventure after another.