Daydreams II
Words: 1555
Rating: G
“How is the orange juice, Uncle Jack?” Pearl coos, pouring me more.Norrington and I are seated outside at a small table overlooking the sea. The bastard certainly had the best built for him and his brood. He holds down the edge of the white tablecloth flapping in the breeze, as if that small rebellion is too much for him.
“Delicious. Thank you. Poured expertly by the greatest beauty in Port Royal…” I offer, grabbing her little hand and kissing it. She giggles. “Now where were you off to all morning?”
I notice the nervous glance toward her father. “I was handing out alms to the poor, Uncle Jack. There are terrible shortages in Port Royal, and it’s past time we had someone who could something about it…”
“Pearl, would you get my hat, I left it upstairs”, Norrington interrupts, and she frowns, but trots off to get it.
“As much fun as it is to watch you charm my daughter….” He starts.
“She’s like a daughter to me too”, I point out sternly.
“I know, hence the reason you’re still alive, Sparrow.” He rolls his eyes at me. This isn’t the moment to point out that beautiful, perky little 16-year-old Pearl Norrington was the exact kind of maiden I found so very easy to seduce in my youth.
“You’re going ahead with her coming-out? Isn’t she a little young?” I ask, wrinkling my nose at the prospect of that young girl married to an old doddard like her…nevermind.
“I want to see her settled”, he says, rubbing between his eyes again, “A husband can lovingly control any…inappropriate impulses better than a father.”
I hate him sometimes. “You’re afraid she’s her mother”, I say, no question whatsoever in my voice.
“No, I don’t think she’s her mother, Sparrow, but if you’re asking if I live in fear that my little girl is going to become a pirate…yes, yes, I do, I always have…her mother was a lady…a governor’s daughter…she should be married and under someone’s control”, he barks.
“And what does Pearl say about all this?”
“She wants to…be…it’s ridiculous…a scholar like her grandfather”, he says. “I approve of donating alms, it speaks well of a lady to do charity work, but she goes beyond that, she…gives speeches in the square to anyone who will listen. She’s had fruit thrown at her before…it’s not safe, or appropriate.”
“Let me get this straight, Commodore, you have a son who wants to be a sailor who you’re forcing to be a lawyer, and a daughter who wants to be a lawyer you’re forcing to be a wife? Do I have that about straight? You never change…or improve”, I spit.
“They’re my children Sparrow! MY family! You never knew the difference between what was mine and what was yours!” he growls.
“I never touched her and you know it!”
“I don’t know any such thing! She certainly spent enough time in your company!” he yells. “Enough! I know why you came here, and I don’t care to hear about it. Feel free to chase her to the four corners of the world if you wish, but you’ll be going alone. She’s left me for the last time.”
“If that’s how you really feel, I guess there’s nothing more to say…” I can’t believe it.
“I suppose not, Sparrow….”
Bang, bang, bang.
“Bloody hell!” he growls and gets up to go around to the front door.
“Poppa!” Pearl correct as she comes back his hat.
Norrington throws open his front door.
“James…” pants a familiar redhead on the other side.
“Gilette!! What are you doing here? What’s wrong?!” Norrington barks.
“I ran all the way from the fort, I had to come myself. It’s the Wavemaker…she’s been sunk…east of Florida…pirates…”
“What?! There ARE no more bloody pirates, this bloody bastard saw to that!” I yell.
“Uncle Jack!”
“Sorry, luv”, I add to Pearl.
“Who’s in area?” Norrington asks calmly, all business.
“James, I’m so sorry…”, Gillette starts.
“I need you to focus on your job. Who do we have in the area?” he asks.
“The Devastator. They checked out the scene, they launched boats, but…there were no survivors. I’m so sorry….”
“We’ll see when we get there. Gillette, get to the fort, rouse as many men who are willing to accompany me. Make it clear this is not an official mission, and under no circumstances are they required to accompany me, we’re going into potentially-pirate infested waters, see to it the Dauntless is armed and ready for close combat…Sparrow…see to the food and water supply…Pearl….run to Estrella, ask her to stay here with you….”
“James, you don’t have permission to take a ship out of dock, in all likelihood there is nothing to see...”, Gillette says.
Pearl begins to collapse and her father catches her and holds her tight against him. “My sweet darling, I’m so sorry. Be strong, and be safe. If he were dead...I would know it….”
“James, maybe you shouldn’t…” Gillette offers.
“I would know it”, James says again.
“The Queen Anne II is ready to go. The Dauntless was in dry dock until a month ago, she’s not....she’s not what she used to be, James”, the redhead offers.
“None of us are”, James comments.
He kisses Pearl firmly on the forehead. “I love you with all my heart, my darling girl. Now I have to go see to your brother. I will find out what happened, I promise....” He’s starting to stutter.
I step in. “Pearl, run to Estrella”, I add, giving the girl a tight hug. She shouldn’t be alone...but she’s already spent so much of her life without either of them.
“Also see to supplies...” he adds.
“I know how to get a ship ready”, I say. He was like my own son that boy.
“Meet me at the Dauntless in four hours. We leave with the tide”, the Admiral informs.
“James, you haven’t been on active duty for years, would you prefer if I...” his friend gets no farther and stops at the look on his face. “James, you have to understand, if the ship is sunk...there is probably nothing there to see.”
“Gillette, stop questioning me and do your job...”
“James!! You’re being unreasonable!”
“Andrew...do we have any idea who this supposed pirate is?” James snaps.
“Some Spaniard...famous...”
“Then he’s heard of me...”, James adds. How horrible is it really that a tragedy like this is what put that spark back in his eyes? “If he took the time to look at Jamie, he knows who he is...do you think there’s a chance it occurred to him that the son of the Scourge of Piracy may be worth more alive than dead?”
“He is just as likely to have come to the conclusion that killing him was the proper revenge”, Gillette says.
“As I said, we won’t know until we get there. They always leave crumbs...I’ve never known a pirate not to leave a trail I could follow....but you’re a Commodore now, Gillette, you’re not obligated to take my orders or serve under me, if you don’t want to...”
“Just try to leave me behind”, the redhead finally winks.
“And get word out to the Devastator on the fastest ship we’ve got that we’re enroute, we’ll rendezvous with them in 1600 hours. Who’s the Captain?” James asks.
“Rogers”, Gillette supplies.
“Tell him Rear Admiral Norrington wants to speak with him personally, and to stay on the scene. That should keep him from moving on whatever his orders are...see you in four hours.” We scatter like dice he tossed in separate directions. It still irks me that when he speaks, all you seem to want to do is follow his orders. It’s as natural as breathing.
But Jamie. Jamie, Jamie, I raised that lad myself with her during the war years...he can’t be dead.
“Sparrow”, he calls, “We’re going to find him.” Where does that certainty come from? What is the source of the confidence that he can fix everything? I can’t do anything but nod in the face of it.
Nearly five hours later, I’m tossing the last rope from the Dauntless into the sea as a blast of wind strikes the mast. Gillette reported, apparently near tears, that every man at the fort volunteered to accompany us, but he picked the fifteen best sailors there.
Norrington almost loses his footing as the ship shoots out from under us. We couldn’t have asked for a better wind if we’d called it down ourselves. Gillette steadies him, saying, “Those blasted wooden legs don’t last forever. Looks like you need a new one.” Rather than the more obvious answer that the Admiral has lost his sea legs after spending the past five years behind a desk. Blasphemy.
“Pearl”, he says.
“Will be okay”, I add.
“Jamie...my God...”
“I suspect you’re right, Admiral, I think he’s alive”, I say.
“I can’t do this”, he sighs, facing into the wind, “I’ve been a terrible father. I was gone all their lives...I don’t know how to do anything but issue orders...do they know how much I love them?”
I dare to touch the man’s arm lightly. “They know, Norrington, they ALL know how much you love them.”
“If my son is out there, we’ll find him”, he nods, bravely.
We’ll find him all right. And he’s not the only one.
Rating: G
“How is the orange juice, Uncle Jack?” Pearl coos, pouring me more.Norrington and I are seated outside at a small table overlooking the sea. The bastard certainly had the best built for him and his brood. He holds down the edge of the white tablecloth flapping in the breeze, as if that small rebellion is too much for him.
“Delicious. Thank you. Poured expertly by the greatest beauty in Port Royal…” I offer, grabbing her little hand and kissing it. She giggles. “Now where were you off to all morning?”
I notice the nervous glance toward her father. “I was handing out alms to the poor, Uncle Jack. There are terrible shortages in Port Royal, and it’s past time we had someone who could something about it…”
“Pearl, would you get my hat, I left it upstairs”, Norrington interrupts, and she frowns, but trots off to get it.
“As much fun as it is to watch you charm my daughter….” He starts.
“She’s like a daughter to me too”, I point out sternly.
“I know, hence the reason you’re still alive, Sparrow.” He rolls his eyes at me. This isn’t the moment to point out that beautiful, perky little 16-year-old Pearl Norrington was the exact kind of maiden I found so very easy to seduce in my youth.
“You’re going ahead with her coming-out? Isn’t she a little young?” I ask, wrinkling my nose at the prospect of that young girl married to an old doddard like her…nevermind.
“I want to see her settled”, he says, rubbing between his eyes again, “A husband can lovingly control any…inappropriate impulses better than a father.”
I hate him sometimes. “You’re afraid she’s her mother”, I say, no question whatsoever in my voice.
“No, I don’t think she’s her mother, Sparrow, but if you’re asking if I live in fear that my little girl is going to become a pirate…yes, yes, I do, I always have…her mother was a lady…a governor’s daughter…she should be married and under someone’s control”, he barks.
“And what does Pearl say about all this?”
“She wants to…be…it’s ridiculous…a scholar like her grandfather”, he says. “I approve of donating alms, it speaks well of a lady to do charity work, but she goes beyond that, she…gives speeches in the square to anyone who will listen. She’s had fruit thrown at her before…it’s not safe, or appropriate.”
“Let me get this straight, Commodore, you have a son who wants to be a sailor who you’re forcing to be a lawyer, and a daughter who wants to be a lawyer you’re forcing to be a wife? Do I have that about straight? You never change…or improve”, I spit.
“They’re my children Sparrow! MY family! You never knew the difference between what was mine and what was yours!” he growls.
“I never touched her and you know it!”
“I don’t know any such thing! She certainly spent enough time in your company!” he yells. “Enough! I know why you came here, and I don’t care to hear about it. Feel free to chase her to the four corners of the world if you wish, but you’ll be going alone. She’s left me for the last time.”
“If that’s how you really feel, I guess there’s nothing more to say…” I can’t believe it.
“I suppose not, Sparrow….”
Bang, bang, bang.
“Bloody hell!” he growls and gets up to go around to the front door.
“Poppa!” Pearl correct as she comes back his hat.
Norrington throws open his front door.
“James…” pants a familiar redhead on the other side.
“Gilette!! What are you doing here? What’s wrong?!” Norrington barks.
“I ran all the way from the fort, I had to come myself. It’s the Wavemaker…she’s been sunk…east of Florida…pirates…”
“What?! There ARE no more bloody pirates, this bloody bastard saw to that!” I yell.
“Uncle Jack!”
“Sorry, luv”, I add to Pearl.
“Who’s in area?” Norrington asks calmly, all business.
“James, I’m so sorry…”, Gillette starts.
“I need you to focus on your job. Who do we have in the area?” he asks.
“The Devastator. They checked out the scene, they launched boats, but…there were no survivors. I’m so sorry….”
“We’ll see when we get there. Gillette, get to the fort, rouse as many men who are willing to accompany me. Make it clear this is not an official mission, and under no circumstances are they required to accompany me, we’re going into potentially-pirate infested waters, see to it the Dauntless is armed and ready for close combat…Sparrow…see to the food and water supply…Pearl….run to Estrella, ask her to stay here with you….”
“James, you don’t have permission to take a ship out of dock, in all likelihood there is nothing to see...”, Gillette says.
Pearl begins to collapse and her father catches her and holds her tight against him. “My sweet darling, I’m so sorry. Be strong, and be safe. If he were dead...I would know it….”
“James, maybe you shouldn’t…” Gillette offers.
“I would know it”, James says again.
“The Queen Anne II is ready to go. The Dauntless was in dry dock until a month ago, she’s not....she’s not what she used to be, James”, the redhead offers.
“None of us are”, James comments.
He kisses Pearl firmly on the forehead. “I love you with all my heart, my darling girl. Now I have to go see to your brother. I will find out what happened, I promise....” He’s starting to stutter.
I step in. “Pearl, run to Estrella”, I add, giving the girl a tight hug. She shouldn’t be alone...but she’s already spent so much of her life without either of them.
“Also see to supplies...” he adds.
“I know how to get a ship ready”, I say. He was like my own son that boy.
“Meet me at the Dauntless in four hours. We leave with the tide”, the Admiral informs.
“James, you haven’t been on active duty for years, would you prefer if I...” his friend gets no farther and stops at the look on his face. “James, you have to understand, if the ship is sunk...there is probably nothing there to see.”
“Gillette, stop questioning me and do your job...”
“James!! You’re being unreasonable!”
“Andrew...do we have any idea who this supposed pirate is?” James snaps.
“Some Spaniard...famous...”
“Then he’s heard of me...”, James adds. How horrible is it really that a tragedy like this is what put that spark back in his eyes? “If he took the time to look at Jamie, he knows who he is...do you think there’s a chance it occurred to him that the son of the Scourge of Piracy may be worth more alive than dead?”
“He is just as likely to have come to the conclusion that killing him was the proper revenge”, Gillette says.
“As I said, we won’t know until we get there. They always leave crumbs...I’ve never known a pirate not to leave a trail I could follow....but you’re a Commodore now, Gillette, you’re not obligated to take my orders or serve under me, if you don’t want to...”
“Just try to leave me behind”, the redhead finally winks.
“And get word out to the Devastator on the fastest ship we’ve got that we’re enroute, we’ll rendezvous with them in 1600 hours. Who’s the Captain?” James asks.
“Rogers”, Gillette supplies.
“Tell him Rear Admiral Norrington wants to speak with him personally, and to stay on the scene. That should keep him from moving on whatever his orders are...see you in four hours.” We scatter like dice he tossed in separate directions. It still irks me that when he speaks, all you seem to want to do is follow his orders. It’s as natural as breathing.
But Jamie. Jamie, Jamie, I raised that lad myself with her during the war years...he can’t be dead.
“Sparrow”, he calls, “We’re going to find him.” Where does that certainty come from? What is the source of the confidence that he can fix everything? I can’t do anything but nod in the face of it.
Nearly five hours later, I’m tossing the last rope from the Dauntless into the sea as a blast of wind strikes the mast. Gillette reported, apparently near tears, that every man at the fort volunteered to accompany us, but he picked the fifteen best sailors there.
Norrington almost loses his footing as the ship shoots out from under us. We couldn’t have asked for a better wind if we’d called it down ourselves. Gillette steadies him, saying, “Those blasted wooden legs don’t last forever. Looks like you need a new one.” Rather than the more obvious answer that the Admiral has lost his sea legs after spending the past five years behind a desk. Blasphemy.
“Pearl”, he says.
“Will be okay”, I add.
“Jamie...my God...”
“I suspect you’re right, Admiral, I think he’s alive”, I say.
“I can’t do this”, he sighs, facing into the wind, “I’ve been a terrible father. I was gone all their lives...I don’t know how to do anything but issue orders...do they know how much I love them?”
I dare to touch the man’s arm lightly. “They know, Norrington, they ALL know how much you love them.”
“If my son is out there, we’ll find him”, he nods, bravely.
We’ll find him all right. And he’s not the only one.