Luka: Shattered Past

24th December 2009

Dear Diary,
                    Tomorrow is Christmas! Mom and Juleka decorated the tree with pirate themed objects and it looks very pretty, it reminds me of photos of mom's village near the coast where she says there's lots of boats and plants unlike the city we live in. She told us how our ancestors were pirates and that someday we'll be pirates too! My dad isn't here though, he went out with friends and hasn't come back for 3 days. Mom says to not worry as it isn't the first time he's done this. He has a habit of abandoning us whenever we annoy him in some way. Even though it hurts a bit to love him recently. I believe deep down he stills loves us in spite of everything. Sometimes when the drinks and weird coloured tablets wear off he does say sorry when he does something bad. I hope tomorrow will go alright.

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For once, the children felt excitement they hadn't felt in a long while. Christmas was tomorrow and their mother was going to be spending some time with them.

"Luka, my boy! Could ye fetch the captain and her squally the tree decorations?" His mother pronounced in her more so exaggerated accent.

"Yes Captain!" He spoke with contentment, picking up the box of decorations and placing it near his mother and sister.

A while later, the tree was covered in anchors, skull and cross bones, and little swash-buckling swords, all with glitter to make the tree sparkle! Plus, fairy lights for the finishing touch. The children stared at it in awe; simultaneously their mother smiled with glee at her children's reactions.

"C'mon my cabin crew. Time for bed!" She picked them up as they giggled non-stop.

After she got them ready for bed, they all huddled up in a blanket.

"When is dad coming home?" Juleka implored.

Their mother hesitantly reassured her "Don't ya worry sweetums, it's not the first time he's gone out for this long. Once he cools down he'll come back."

The siblings shared a worried glance at the other.

Luka remembered spotting his father take some weird tablets before he left the apartment. As much as he didn't like his father at that moment, he did hope he was ok.

Their mother noticing their reactions prepared to tell them a story to distract them from her former partner.

"I got something big to tell ya! Are you ready?"

"What story is it this time mom?" Luka asked in cheer.

"Well my boy, long ago, our ancestors were pirates! They sailed the wide oceans to search for the land of freedom. They scaled all over the world!" Their mother expressed with such joy.

"No way! Does that mean we are pirates too?" followed by "Does it mom?" The children interrogated politely.

"Why not? One day, when you're both old enough we'll sail all together on a boat just like I did with my parents when I was Luka's age. We can explore the world! How does that sound?"

"I'd love that! I can't wait!" Luka stated, along with an excited nod from Juleka. "Thank you mom!"

"Of course, sweetums. Now time to sleep, we gotta wake up early tomorrow to get ready."

Giving them each a kiss she said "Goodnight kiddos." Before she turned off the light and left the room.

As Juleka fell into a peaceful slumber. Luka took out the newly started book and wrote down another entry along with the revelation their mother had told them. He drew their family excluding their father as a pirate gang on top of a huge ship.

He soon then fell into slumber as well, dreaming of being a dashing pirate, escaping captivity from his wicked father and sailing the world with his courageous mother and cunning sister.