The Captain and His Lady (A Fantasy Short Story) √

And I your first mate!

Eight-year-old Emma grinned as she chased nine-year-old Michael around the park. He blew through a tube he had found, creating a horn-like sound every which way he went. Michael chuckled every time Emma tried to grab at the hem of his shirt. He shouted in triumph when she missed. She squealed with excitement and quickened her pace. Though Michael was still much faster than Emma was. Now and then, Michael would slow down and let Emma catch him. He loved the sound she'd make when she tackled him to the ground.

"Caught you!" she shouted, wrapping her arms tightly around him.

Michael laughed out loud and struggled to free himself from her grasp. However, he only pretended to struggle. Michael loved it when Emma caught him and he didn't truly mean to get away.

"You've gotten your shirt dirty," Michael scolded as he and Emma sat up to calm themselves. "What will your mum say?"

"I have another," Emma replied, looking down at her blue-green shirt. "I can ask my sister to put it to wash when I get home."

"I liked that color . . . Shall we return to our game? I believe we were going to pillage Lord Pickett's ship."

"Yes! We must conquer new ships for our fleet!"

Michael jumped to his feet, the afternoon sun reflecting off his red-brown hair. He stretched out his hand to Emma, which she took wearing a broad grin. Her brown hair shone brightly in the daylight, glistening with a reddish hue.

"My dear lady!" Michael said, stuffing the tube beneath his arm like a sargent. "As captain of the Red Fox, I hereby command that we cast off the main sail!"

"Aye, Captain!" Emma stood straighter and bobbed her head with an excited nod. "You're the captain! And I your first mate!"

Michael grinned and took Emma by the hand. They ran towards the tallest slide in the park, the one with the rope ladder and the pirate's helm. Michael and Emma shouted, making telescopes with their hands as they sought out ships and lands where they could make port. Michael gave orders and Emma carried them out. Just like the pirates in the movies.

***

"There she blows!" first mate, Lady Emma shouted, pointing to the whale as it spewed water from its blowhole. "What are your orders, captain!"

"Prepare the harpoons!" Captain Michael replied, closing his spyglass before taking the helm. "First mate, Lady Emma! Prepare to starboard side!"

Lady Emma grabbed hold of Captain Michael's arm and clung tight. The captain turned the wheel hard. The wind blew and whistled around them. The waves crashed over the rails, sloshing across the deck. The dark rain clouds released what seemed like buckets of water, raining down hard upon them.

"We're going to capsize!" Lady Emma shouted as the Red Fox tilted far on its side. "We'll become a fish food!"

"No we won't!" Captain Michael shouted back, one hand on the helm, the other tightly around Emma's waist. "Hold tight and pray that God spares our lives!"

The two held tight to each other as the great white whale crashed into the port side of the Red Fox. The beast grumbled and moaned. However, it did not sound like the usual bellow of a whale. No, it sounded like something else.

***

Michael's stomach grumbled with hunger. He glanced at Emma, who was now giggling from the sound.

"I suppose I should return home for supper," Michael said, feigning a pout as he sat at the top of the slide. "You'll cook for me, won't you?"

"Of course, I will!" Emma replied, sitting behind him. "Lead the way, Captain!"

Emma wrapped her arms around Michael and held tight as he gave them a push-off. They shouted as they slid down the slide and into the dirt. Michael slid forward onto his stomach. Emma fell on top of him and he grunted.

"Sorry!" Emma scrambled to get up and helped Michael to his feet. "Are you hurt? I didn't mean to-"

Michael cut her off with an evil grin, raising his arms like a monster. He growled; Emma squealed and started to run away. However, Michael caught her and tackled her to the ground. She squealed as he tickled her. Michael loved the sound and wanted to hear it more. But he knew not to get too rough because Emma was still a girl. His mum would surely be angry with him if he were to hurt Emma. He would feel terrible about hurting her as well.

Michael grinned as he stopped tickling Emma to let her breathe. She panted, still laughing and smiling so brightly that her cheeks turned bright pink. Michael's grin softened into a smile as he and Emma sat up. He waited for her to catch her breath before saying anything. However, she spoke first.

"Will I see you again tomorrow?" Emma asked in a small voice. "You're not always here when I come."

"I don't know," Michael replied, shrugging. "I will try to come . . . My parents are always bringing me with them to see my grandparents. Grandfather is sick and mum is helping Grandma around the house."

"I'm sorry . . . Then, promise you'll look for me when you are here?"

Michael looked into Emma's big brown eyes and smiled, nodding his head slowly.

"Of course," he said in a soft voice.

Emma smiled and leaned forward. She kissed his cheek and quickly stood. She ran away giggling. Michael called after her, but Emma was already climbing into her mother's waiting car. He sighed and turned to retrieve his tube and pretend pirate's hat. He dusted it off and quickly ran in the direction of his home.

***

Emma sighed as she sat on the swing. Her eyes peeled for anything red. She had been sitting on the swing for a good half hour. But there was no sign of Michael. Mum would be coming to get Emma soon. However, Emma did not want to go. Not if she thought Michael might appear after she left.

How can I let Michael know that I was here? Emma thought as she looked around the park again. She then glanced at the big slide and the pirate's wheel. Emma smiled and quickly jumped off the swing.

***

Michael panted as he tried to reach the park in time. His parents had told him he could go once he had finished his school assignments. Michael hoped he would arrive in time to play with Emma. He knew she would be waiting for him. Emma always waited for him.

Michael stopped to catch his breath and glanced around at the other kids playing. Most were younger than him. None were Emma. Michael straightened and looked around the park again, thinking he could have missed Emma. No. She wasn't there. That was for certain. He couldn't have missed her. He could recognize her big brown eyes anywhere, even from very far away. Then, something blue flapping in the autumn breeze caught his attention. He looked at the slide, where the pirate's wheel was, and saw that the blue item was a piece of cloth. It flapped like a flag.

Michael ran to the slide, wanting to get there before anyone else thought to remove the fabric. He stood in front of it, feeling it between his fingers, and smiled. Stuck in the knot of the the cloth was a yellow dandelion. Emma's favorite flower. Emma was here, and she had waited. Perhaps her mum came to get her before he had arrived.

Michael sighed as he untied the cloth and removed the flower. He stuffed the fabric in his pocket and twirled the dandelion in his fingers. A breeze blew through his thick bangs, and it caused the dandelion seeds to take flight. Michael was surprised that they hadn't blown away before he found the flower. With that, Michael released the bare stem and turned to go down the slide.