리틀팍스

Our ship had hit a large iceburg. The Fispanica was leaking!

But luckily, the Stipenquan, which was the third boat, and the Hilorish, the fourth boat, sensed our danger and came to rescue us.

We had to abandon the Fispanica, so I went onboard the Stipenquan.

Some people went with me; others went to the Hilorish.

"Set sail!" The first brother shouted.

WE finally managed to escape Antarctica in fifteen days.

I sent my mother the first mail.

I had managed to seize the laptop when I escaped from the Fispanica.

'Mother, we had reached Antarctica.

But the Fispanica was broken, so we had to abandon it.

I`m on board the Stipenquan now.

We are now heading to Africa.
I`m the cabin boy, who does chores and some other things around.

But I`m very bored because there is actually nothing to do.

I can sometimes hear the men eating some jerky and wine.

They are singing pirate songs; yep, old fashioned pirates!
It`s weird to think that I`m with pirates.

Sometimes, I have nightmares of pirates.

They chase me in my dream just before they stab me with their pocketnives.

When they toss the knife, I wake up with a weak cry.

Then, I fall asleep, like nothing has ever happened.

I wish to establish our goal and head back to the mainland.

Pray for us, mother.

I might stay for a while at the colony with the sailors for a month or so.

But, someday, I`ll return to the mainland, dear old U.S.A.

Mail me back.

Love ya and bye!
                                                       -Liam'

I used to get replies from mother, but she was busy opening a new hotel.

So, I began to play chess with some of the older sailors.

They weren`t bad, but some people called them pirates because they talk like pirates.

Like 'matey' or 'flint`s treasure' when something good happens.

Those books are all from sea stories; the piratey ones.

I know most of them, I learned it from Mr. Bones, who`s one of the sailors.

When he`s free, he`s telling us stories such as 'Treasure Island'.

I really enjoy that one, especially at nighttime when we all need to be alert.

I learned what sailors do and what they like to do.

Soon, I was doing chores better than anyone else!

Sweeping decks, cleaning and making beds, check for enough gunpowder for pistols.....

At one time, we had a fight with a troop of African pirates.

They used disunderstandable language and even more disunderstandable actions.

But finally, we managed to beat them with pistols.

I also learned how to control the key in an emergency.

It`s very important to stay calm and take right actions aboard when you`re a sailor.

You mustn`t freak out, even when it`s leaking or stormy.

We haven`t faced any storms yet, only a couple of rainy days.

And we keep on sailing like that.

Mr. Bones is charge of the sailors.

He directs them and gives them work.

When the captain is looking at maps and busy, it`s his job to take care of the key.

And, his important job is to keep me entertained.

Adults can take care of themselves; they can find their own entertainment themselves.

But I cannot because I am only twelve years old.

I must even get permission just to climb up to the mast!

So, Mr. Bones tells me what to do aboard the ship and what I shouldn`t do.

He has been a sailor for fifteen years aboard the sea, so I trust his advice.

He knows lots of sea-related bedtime stories.

So, I act as my given orders.

Here`s my schedule.

07:30: Wake up and sweep the deck

08:00: Breakfast

09:00: Make the beds

09:40: Spy for land and control the sails

10:00: Bring the captain his coffee

10:10: Have fun with Mr. Bones

11:00: Wash the decks with water and make sure everything`s okay in the ship

12:00: Lunchtime

12:40: Watch the map and control the sails

01:00: Count our food

01:30: Wash my face and brush my teeth

02:00: Chat with the other sailors

02:50: Check the main mast

03:10: Spy for land and check for the weather forecast

03:35: Do anything!

04:40: Check for rotting food, insects, and rats in the food

05:00: Help make supper

05:20: Have fun with Mr. Bones

06:00: Suppertime

07:00: Bring the captain his coffee

07:30: Check if everything in board is okay

08:00: Bring out the compass and telescope

08:20: Look at the stars and figure out our way

09:00: Brush my teeth and check the sails

09:20: Get ready for bed

09:30: Listen to Mr. Bones`s scary bedtime stories

10:00: Bedtime

This happened on and on, until we hit a piece of land full of trees and open fields.

We went offboard and stepped into the ground.