Smee was brought out of his musings when the very grown-up James finally made his way to the dock. Smee saw him turning the corner, the sound of James’s boots clicking on the wood, and James’s black velvet coat swishing in the wind. Smee thought James looked every bit a pirate, and had confidence James would prove himself to be a capable member of Blackbeard’s crew. Smee took a deep breath, and was taken aback that he was feeling proud of James. Here he was embarking on this journey with such bravery, leaving everything he knew behind to fulfill his dream. In fact, Smee couldn’t be prouder.

“Master James, you make a dashing pirate,” said Smee, smiling.

“That’s because I am a dashing pirate, Mr. Smee,” said James with a smirk.

“Too right, Master James. It seems we both are now,” said Smee, wishing James had found something more dignified for him to wear.

“You don’t have to come with me, Mr. Smee,” said James. “It’s not too late to change your mind.” But Smee wouldn’t hear of it.

“Your parents would never forgive me if I came home without you, sir. And I would never forgive myself if something happened and I wasn’t there to protect you. No, we’re in this together,” said Smee, lifting his head high.

“Let us embark on our journey then, Mr. Smee! We are about to sail the perilous seas, and visit distant lands full of adventure. Who knows what awaits us! Dangerous foes, monstrous creatures, enchanted lands!” said James, his heart full of excitement.

“And let us not forget treasure, James, great heaps of wondrous treasure!” bellowed Blackbeard from the stern of the ship.

“Aye, sir! Permission to come aboard, Captain?” asked James in the old-fashioned way, which made Blackbeard chuckle.

“Permission granted, to you and Mr. Smee,” said Blackbeard with a wink.

And to his surprise Smee felt a terrible sense of dread, like they were making a drastic mistake, and in that moment he wanted nothing more than to grab his master by the hand and drag him back home again. It suddenly felt as if it were all too perfect, as if this had been planned long ago by some unseen force, and it sent a shudder through Smee, making him worry James was going down a dangerous path.

But he couldn’t bring himself to share his fears with James. All he could think of was the young boy crying in his bedroom because no matter how many times he fell out of his pram he couldn’t find Never Land again. How could Smee be the person to stand in the way of his dream? And he knew in his heart nothing could stand in James’s way, not even his old friend Mr. Smee. James would find Never Land no matter what the cost, and Smee wanted to be there to help James along the way.