Jack: Book 3 in the Trilogy

"Captain Jackie"Part 32

At the appointed time three days later at 22:30 hours, Morris pulled the sloop up alongside The Midnight Raider. The shimmering moonbeams played upon the water and lit up the girls faces as they climbed a rope ladder to the deck where Jack and I greeted them. They were all smiles. We were too as we were beginning to worry that something went wrong. I think Jack and I were understanding for the first time that Mauricia and America had become a big part of our lives. I couldn't help but think that Jack's future big adventure plans would hit some major sandbanks along the nautical way.

"See, I told you they wouldn't be a'lettin' you go off without their consent," Jack said. "So you had to steal away in the night while your mommies and daddies were a'sleepin, huh ladies?"

"What's he talking about?" Mauricia said to me. I shrugged my shoulders.

"You're damn lucky you were able to fake 'em out!" Jack continued. "Now wasn't I right? Parents never let their children to anythin' fun when they thinks they might face any kind of harm - it don't matter what the purpose is, they always come down on the side of protectin' them for their own sake, and often don't realize that their kiddies have already become adults and that life experiences have taught them adulthood lessons and that they're not kids anymore. Sometimes you just gotta do what ya gotta do and forget what ya mum and pop are a'sayin' because they still a'treatin' you like you were still kids, and don't realize that life has happened, and changed their little kiddies, and you no longer are children. Ya see girlies, I was right when I said they'd never let you go willingly, wasn't I," said Jack.

"Well, actually my mum and dad listened very well to what I had to say," said America. "My dad was dead against it at first but, after I told them that I loved Jeremy and would be eternally unhappy without him, my mum told me I was making the right decision, and my dad, reluctantly, agreed - and she said I'd grown up so much in the past six months and that she was so incredibly happy that I was happy and alive and safe and that someone I really loved, really loved me back."

"That's about the same way it went with me," said Mauricia. "Of course, we all were together at my mom's inn."

"So Jack," I said, "There you go again talking like you know everything without bothering to assess the situation. Do you want to say anything more to the young ladies?"

"Shut up boy!" said Jack. "I'm the one whose a'gonna have to get us all back to Charleston during hurricane season. I may not be any expert on girlie problems but I know the sea and that's the main thing."

"Oh Jackie, you're so right," said Mauricia.

"Yeah!" said America. "And you were totally right that you shouldn't have gone with us to help talk our parents into our idea of going off with you two sailor boys. That would have been a real disaster," she said, laughing until tears came to her eyes. "You're right sailor boy, stick to the sea and let those who know how to handle women, and parents - like Jeremy here - navigate the domestic waters."

"Domestic waters?" said Jack. "Speak English for god's sake girlies. Now, if you don't mind, it's time to ship out while the weather still looks good and we've got a full moon."

"Oh we don't mind, Jackie, do we America? We just love it when you give us orders that we are just a'dyin' to follow, isn't that right America?"

"Yes. We don't mind at all following Jackie's orders. He's so cute when he gives us orders and expects us to follow them. Are we going to do what Captain Jackie says this time, or do we have other plans," said Mauricia.

"It's not Captain Jackie, girlie-girls ..." said Jack as he was interrupted.

"Yeah, we know," both girls said at the same time, "It's Captain Jack!" Both young ladies giggled all the way to the captain's cabin where the two of them would sleep from now on - alone of course, as that was the captain's order.