The Silent Thief

XX

XX

       “Oh, thank God, the door!” I exclaimed when I saw it. One is having a bad day when one cannot find the front door after ten minutes of walking around one’s hotel. I laughed at my thought but my laugh quickly faded when I saw a dozen women swarming Captain James. I chuckled almost evilly and thought, Let my feminine side take over.

I walked toward the Captain. It was a warm day and I resisted the urge to rip my dress off and go back to wearing and walking like a man. To walk like a woman was not something I enjoyed at all.

The two ladies who had helped me saw me and started shooing the other women away. How helpful they were. The older one came over to me and whispered in my ear, “Do not mind to let us know anything you need, milady. Your friend Jake has paid us well.”

“Oh um, thank you my kind lady,” I said understandingly.

“We have said to the Captain of his plans today,” the lady said nodding.

“His plans?” I asked confused.

“I believe you are Grace,” came the Captain’s voice. “I was told that you would show me the town.”

I looked at him and answered, “Yes, Captain James. It would be my pleasure.” I smiled and hoped that he would not recognize me in any way.

“I reckon it would be MY pleasure, milady.” He grabbed my hand and placed it between his own. “Show me this lovely town of yours.”

I smiled insincerely and replied, “Right this way.”

I took the longest time finding the front door. How did I expect to show Captain James the town?

*******

The Captain laughed at my story. I had told him of the time a man had tried flirting me and I broke his nose after he started to go too far. I was sixteen at the time, and I was already experienced enough to defend myself.

“I must say,” said Captain James, “I understand why the man would flirt with you. You’re clearly a beautiful woman, but if any man tried to put his hands on ME, I would certainly break his nose.”

I laughed at his comment.

After walking around and failing to be a decent guide, I decided to just sit and talk. I figured Captain James was bored of me pointing out the obvious. For instance, we had passed the same bakery three times and every time I would declare, “Here is the bakery.” The shop was named ‘The Bakery’ as well.

“Now Captain James, you must tell a story about yourself,” I said eager to hear anything he had to say.

“Please just call me James,” he replied looking at me. I immediately felt uncomfortable.

What did I look like to him? I wondered. I nodded and he started his story.

“Once, oh many times, when I was a lad--”

I let out a laugh but quickly apologized, “I’m sorry, please continue.”

“What is it?” he asked implying to why I laughed.

“I found it funny how you started your story, because you are still a lad. Excuse me, but you must be only…twenty-five years old? Yet you start your story with,” I tried imitating his voice, “‘When I was a lad’. You can still be a lad sometimes.” I almost regretted saying that, for I thought that he would see me as an immature girl now.

He sighed but smiled and said, “First of all, I do not sound like that,” he nudged me playfully with his shoulder and continued speaking, “and I suppose you are correct, milady. I am actually twenty-seven now and even my uncle has told me that I’m too serious at times.”

He’s way more serious than you, I thought. It made me feel better though. “Please, start your story again,” I urged him.

He chuckled, “Alright then, a few years ago,” he looked at me and winked, “there was a particular time I was at it again with my ridiculous curiosity.”

I leaned back on my shoulders getting comfortable for his story.

“I was twenty at the time and my uncle had told me to stay at home while he went out and did whatever it was he did. I could hardly contain my need to go out and explore the town, maybe even make some friends for I sat and watched the busy streets outside my window. When my uncle told me not to do something when I had my mind set on it, that moment was the hardest time of my life. So, as a crazy teenage boy, I disobeyed.”

I gasped and said teasingly, “You didn’t!”

“I did. Yes indeed, I did and that day got me into a lot of trouble.”

“What happened? Please continue.”

“Well, I left my house and went through the town. It was not as pleasant as it looked from my window. I did see a few young lads that I tried playing with but they shooed me off. About noon, I started to get hungry. I had wandered so far from home, I thought that I would faint before I got back. I thought to myself where could I get food, and then I heard such a commotion a little ways away. I ran towards the noise and saw that I had reached the docks. A ship was coming in and passengers were waiting to board. I had heard of ships that carried people to different countries but only then did I actually see one. It was going to Spain, but that was not of my concern. All my hungry little eyes saw, were the loads of fruit and bread the sailors were loading. You can probably guess what happened after that.” He looked at me.

“You stole some?” I guessed. I was a thief so it was my first thought.

“Yes, and the bread. I was so full after that meal on the ship. No one bothered or questioned me. The must’ve thought that I was one of the lords’ son. The deck was full of rich folks with many children running around. I was too caught up in filling my tummy that I didn’t realize the ship was leaving.”

“So you went to Spain?”

“Yes, and when I got there, I looked for the first ship back to my hometown in England. When I arrived home five days later, the angriest man I had ever seen was waiting for me. That was my uncle of course, and I got the spanking of my life.”

 “You were a naughty boy, indeed,” I said after a moment. I looked to the horizon and realized how late it was.

“Milady, I must get back to my ship and see how the repairs are going,” Captain James said standing. He lent his hand out to help me up.

I nodded and took his hand. “I must say thank you for sharing your adventure with me.”

He laughed and replied, “No, thank you. I enjoyed it.”

We walked back toward the hotel that I was supposed to be in. I was praying that he would not want to see Ace. We stopped outside the front door and I waited for him to say something.

“The lad is probably getting ready for supper,” he said looking at the hotel. “I will try to visit him tomorrow then. I hope to see you too, milady.” He grabbed my hand and kissed the top.

“Goodnight, Captain.”                                                             

He still held my hand and waited for me to correct myself.

“Alright then.” I let out a sarcastic breath and said, “Goodnight, JAMES.”

He smiled and walked away, all the while I watched his every move.

A voice asked, “How was your day, Grace?”