“Your dog has an
eye patch?”
“Wolf.”
“What?
“My wolf has an
eye patch.”
I blinked again
making sure I wasn’t seeing things. Nope the large grey and white haired
creature let out a low growl in my direction as it padded across the deck and
sat next to its master.
“So listen, if you
are going to be First Mate on my ship there are a few rules you need to know.”
“I don’t want to
be First Mate on your ship.” I said.
“Well, I’m sure
Little Red Riding hood didn’t want a patch over his eye either but he’s making
the best of it now isn’t he?”
I glanced over and
the wolf paused long enough from licking itself to look at me, showing its
large dagger like teeth in a snarl.
“You named your
wolf Little Red Riding Hood?”
“Well I couldn’t
very well name him wolf could I? That’s like naming you…” He paused as he ran a
hand through his Mohawk like haircut. “That’s like naming you human and that
wouldn’t be very nice now would it? What is your name by the way?”
I looked at the
man in front of me who had known me my entire like with a raised eyebrow,
“Uncle you know my name.”
“Quick refresher
lad.” He said pointing a finger in my direction with a smile.
“It’s Jack.”
“And right you are
John, from now on I’m just going to call you First Mate.”
I opened my mouth
to protest my newly appointed position and that he had got my name wrong again
but my uncle didn’t give me a chance, “Rule number one, there are no rules.
Rule number two, you will never serve me beans or beanstalks, they make me
gassy and create an overall poor working environment for everyone on board. And
the last rule is… care to venture a guess?”
I shook my head
squinting my eyes at my Uncle, “How can there be a rule two and three if rule
number one was that there are no rules?”
“Ja… er… I mean
First Mate please focus, what would you guess rule number three to be?”
I threw up my
hands in a show of surrender. “I don’t know, never touch Little Red Riding
Hood’s eye patch?”
My uncle took a
step back and with huge brown eyes asked me, “How did you know that? Well I
guess that’s why your First Mate.” He said answering his own question.
“Your first duty
as my second in command it to find us a crew to man The Pandora. The ship will need at least a dozen crewmembers to
operate efficiently.”
“Right,” he said
placing both fists on his hips and taking in a large breath. Letting it out
slowly he gave me a smile. “Well that’s a great days work for me I’m off for a
nap. You can head into Granny’s Town and start signing up recruits. Take Little
Red Riding hood with you and remember rule number three.”
