“This will do quite nicely,” said James, smiling, feeling the weight of his obligation to his mother lifted from his shoulders, as well as his obligation to the Odd Sisters, and he was happy to have something to remember his friend by. Not that he needed reminding; he thought of Blackbeard often and missed him greatly. “It has been a pleasure doing business with you, good man. I doubt you will have any trouble at all selling these treasures, especially if you tell your patrons they were procured by a pirate.”

“Are you the pirate from the story, then?” asked the shopkeeper, his eyes wide.

“No,” said James with a smile. “But I am the pirate from my story.”

James left the little shop, his wooden chest now bursting with currency, and his heart filled with hope. He had more than enough money to help his mother, and he reasoned if Blackbeard were alive he would approve of his choice. At least that is what he hoped. He did, after all, keep the boot buckles, and he had to admit he couldn’t wait to see what they looked like with his new hat and coat. He wore the coat and hat out of the shop, feeling at last like a proper pirate. He felt alive, and he was tingling with excitement. He was getting closer to fulfilling his obligations to the Odd Sisters, and realizing his dream. He was now embarking on the grandest of adventures, and he would soon be making his way to Never Land as the captain of his own ship, and with a pirate crew at his disposal. Life was good. But first he had one last thing to attend to.

He had to go home.

James hadn’t expected to feel such sorrow seeing his mother so much older and in such a state of grief. He saw her sitting near her favorite fountain, where she and James’s papa would sit in the quiet of the morning, but now the gardens were overgrown, and his mama’s once inky-black hair was streaked with silver. She looked lonely and heartbroken, but he couldn’t bring himself to face her; he knew she would plead with him to stay, and there was a part of him that wanted to. He was all she had left now, and it broke his heart. He snuck into the house through the servants’ entrance, and put the wooden box filled with banknotes on her vanity, along with a little note.

Dear Mama,

I am deeply saddened to learn of Papa’s passing, and your current circumstances. Please accept this gift, knowing I have never forgotten my duty, nor my love for you.

Most sincerely,

James

Chapter XII