Their Pirate Princess

A person’s imagination can be such a creative and wonderful thing. In your mind you can hatch a plan, execute it, and sail off into the sunset (pun intended) knowing your plan went perfectly. In my mind, my plan did go perfectly. My friends and I were going to sail off into the sunset (literally), travel, and make memories. My brain made it seem so easy, so achievable. But as I stand here staring at the rickety, old sailboat my grandfather had left me in his will, I’m beginning to think the plan may not be so simple. “Are you sure this thing is safe?” Luke asks, wincing as the boat creaks from the pressure of the ripples in the water. “Well, it’s floating and in one piece, so I would say that’s a good start.” I offer, with a shrug. It is floating. It just may not be in the best shape. It’s currently tied to a dock with fraying ropes that have seen better days. Another ripple has the boat bumping into the dock. Just like the ropes, the boat has also seen better days. “According to the paperwork it’s a 1971 Banjer 37-foot sailboat.” Although I have no idea what any of that means. “1971! Should this thing even be on the water any more?” Luke asks, making Jamie chuckle. She’s been silent since we arrived, taking everything in. “Okay so it’s a little old and could use some TLC.” I sigh as I take in the boat. There’s scuff marks around the edges, marring the off white color of the boat. It’s covered in grime that’s been washed up by the ocean where the edges of the water meet the boat. The deck of the boat is covered in what I can only assume is bird poop. There’s scuff marks along the deck from years of people traversing back and forth. The cockpit, which according to the online sailing course I took, is where you steer the boat. It’s completely enclosed, protecting it’s captain from the crashing waves and harsh weather. The paint is starting to chip, but it otherwise is fully intact. Jamie finally breaks her silence, “Maybe this isn’t the best idea.” Right, back to my idea that seemed to go so much better in my head. Five months ago my grandfather, the last living relative I had, passed away after a long battle with cancer. After he passed I learned that he left me everything, although it wasn’t very much. He didn’t own a house since he lived in a nursing home. He didn’t have much money since most of it went to medical bills. What he did have was this boat. Since I have no idea how to sail my first thought was to sell it, but he left me a note asking me to fix it up and use it to travel, to see the world. I didn’t visit my grandfather as much as I would have liked the past couple of years. I was always busy with work, with friends, but I loved him very much. So after reading his note, I decided I would honor his last wish and use the boat to travel. Somehow I was able to talk my two best friends, Luke and Jamie, into coming with me. Which leads us to this moment. “Jamie may be right. I don’t know if this is the best idea.” Luke says, with Jamie nodding in agreement. “We have no idea how to sail, we have no idea how to figure out where we’re going, and we don’t even look like we belong on a sailboat.” I take in my two best friends. He may have a point. Jamie is wearing a black t-shirt with light blue denim shorts and black converse. Her curly light brown hair is thrown atop her head in a messy bun. She has a pair of aviators covering her brown eyes. There is a duffel bag in one hand and a small backpack hanging from the other. Next to her is Luke. He stands about a foot taller than her, making him about six feet two. He looks a little more prepared. He’s wearing a thin, light blue long sleeve, that looks like a water-wicking material. He has on a pair of dark blue swim shorts and a pair of slip on sandals. He’s wearing a white baseball cap backwards, light brown strands of hair peeking out the sides. He has two duffel bags that look to be bursting at the seams. His bluish-gray eyes bore into me, waiting for a response. I look down at myself. My dark green shorts are water repellent, paired with a white t-shirt. My gray sneakers are specifically meant for boating. My dark brown hair is up in a ponytail, my sunglasses laid on top of my head, ready for me to pull down at any moment to shield my green eyes from the sun. Even with the almost half a bottle of sunscreen I used this morning I can still feel the sun beating down on my face, and I know the smattering of freckles across my nose and cheeks must be very prominent. The only bonus is that we’re all in good shape. Luke worked at a gym and while he got a free membership, Jamie and I got discounts, so we all went pretty regularly. Jamie and I have a runner’s build, whereas Luke spent most of his time lifting weights, and it shows in the bulk of his arms, and the faint outline of his abs beneath his fitted long sleeve. But still, standing here together, we definitely don’t look like sailors. But I don’t plan on turning back now. I already quit my job a week ago. I ended my lease for my apartment and sold most of my belongings. I’m doing this, and I sure as he** am not doing it alone. “We may not look like sailors, but I know enough. I took a sailing course.” I try and reassure them. Luke huffs a laugh. “That was an online course that cost fifty dollars. You learned parts of the boat and how to tie a rope.” “It’s better than knowing nothing.” I counter. He opens his mouth about to say something but I cut him off. “But it doesn’t matter anyways. I hired someone that does know how to sail and he should be here any minute,” “Do you know anything about this guy?” Luke questions. “Have you even met him in person?” “We just talked online. All I know is that he’s sailed from a young age and travels with people on their boats to help them learn how to sail.” “Great so a could be serial killer and three clueless friends all crammed into a small space. What could go wrong?” I smack Luke’s arm, making him laugh. “Well either way, I’m in.” Jamie says. “I have nothing for me here, and I’m ready for an adventure.” I wrap my arm around her and rest my head on her shoulder. Like me, she has no living family members. My parents died in a car accident when I was ten. I had both sets of grandparents to raise me, but they all passed away from medical issues, and my parents had both been only siblings. Jamie had been in the foster care system for most of her life and unfortunately aged out, never getting adopted. She called both Luke and I her found family. “I guess I have no reason to stick around either.” Luke rubbed the back of his neck, looking down at his feet. He never really talked about his home life, but I knew his mom had passed when he was young and his father was an alcoholic. He has an older brother but he left as soon as he turned eighteen. So here we all were, at twenty-three years old with no family, about to leave everything behind and sail into the unknown. I turned to Luke, about to speak, but a masculine voice spoke first. “Does one of you happen to be Wren?”