“What be the meaning of this Brownbeard!”
thundered Blackbeard.
“I don’t know!” answered Brownbeard.
“I didn’t come here to fight children!” said
Blackbeard.
“Neither did I!” said Brownbeard.
Blackbeard, Brownbeard, and their crews
gathered in the plaza of this dusty village. Nearly
all of the child soldiers, all dressed in black,
surrendered immediately. Those that did not lay
down their arms were easily subdued being so
weak from hunger.
“Felix! What is the meaning of this?” asked
Brownbeard.
“What do you mean? What is the meaning of
what?” asked Felix.
“Don’t play games with me Felix! You said
Pewtrewsha’s soldiers were terrorizing the
countryside. These are not soldiers! These are
children!” cried Brownbeard.
“I know that! That’s who the soldiers are!
Children. The children are soldiers. The soldiers
are children. So what?”
Blackbeard, Brownbeard, and their crews
looked at one another in stunned silence. Could
that really be? Children as soldiers? Trained to
steal other children and threaten and kill? No!
That could not be.
“That makes no sense, Felix,” said Brownbeard.
“Awful,” whispered Hazel.
The woman whom Blackbeard’s well aimed
shot had saved walked over to them. “The boy
knows nothing different,” said the woman,
gesturing to Felix. “That is how things are in the
Land of Longing.”
Brownbeard took a closer look at the army of
kids they had just disarmed. There were boys and
girls, pups and kittens, of all shape, size and color.
They looked thin and sad. A few had defiance in
their eyes, but no strength to resist their captors.
The soldier children now sat down with their legs
crossed and hands folded on their laps as
Blackbeard instructed them. Felix walked over to
a scrappy looking puppy dog with large floppy
ears and dirty matted fur. The pup looked up at
Felix with dull, sorrowful eyes.
“Don’t I know you?” Felix asked the pup.
“I don’t think so,” said the dog.
Felix looked at the dog carefully. His eyes
narrowed as he struggled to remember.
“Maybe not,” said Felix, and turning, he walked
away. The dog just sat there dejected.
Then Felix’s eyes widened. He turned again
and headed towards the dog.
“Yes!” Felix insisted. “When I still had both of
my parents, when I was six, maybe five, a group
of soldiers came to my village. The village of
Tuckin. That was when I lost my parents and you
were stolen. Before that we would play ball
together. I’d throw a ball and you would run and
go get it. You’d bring me the ball and I would
throw it again. Then, you would get tired and not
bring me the ball anymore. You would drop the
ball and come over and lie down by me. I’d
scratch you behind the ears or tummy. We would
do that for hours.”
The dog just looked at Felix with a curious
frown, trying to recollect, hoping that what this
young boy said might be true.
“You would wag your tail as I scratched your
tummy, and if I hit that certain spot, you’d wiggle
your leg furiously. I called you ‘Pickles’ because
you were the only dog in Tuckin who would eat
the pickles I gave you from my lunch. No other
dog wanted those pickles.”
The dog’s eyes slowly grew bright with
recognition.
“Pickles. Yes. I remember. Barely. It was so
long ago.”
“No! Not so long ago! Only a few years,” said
Felix. “It just seems a longer time ago. It’s the
gruel that Pewtrewsha feeds you. What you don’t
forget you barley recall. All your memories seem
so far away and foggy.”
“Felix,” said the dog.
“Yes, Pickles. It’s me,” said Felix.
“Felix! It has been so long! I know it has! I can’t
believe it’s you!” cried Pickles. The dog got up
and licked Felix’s face with joy.
Felix laughed and laughed. This brought
laughter from the pirates. Slowly, the remaining
villagers and many of the child soldiers began to
smile as well.
“Pickles!” shouted Felix.
“That’s me!” cried Pickles.
“I know! I know!” shouted Felix, hugging the
dog with whom he had once played fetch.
“Felix? What happens to the soldiers when they
get too old for Pewtrewsha’s army?” asked Hazel.
“I don’t know,” said Felix.
“Pewtrewsha promised she will free us after
our service is done,” said Pickles.
“Yes,” a young girl spoke up from where she
was sitting. “Those who work hard in the rock
factory may become soldiers. Those who do a
good job as a soldier will be freed. That is what
Pewtrewsha said.”
Many of the children nodded in agreement.
That is what had been said.
“But that will not happen for us now!” shouted
a dark haired boy, with sparkling black eyes, from
where he sat. He was one of the few soldiers who
had tried to resist the pirates. In fact, he was the
one who put up the hardest fight. “We have failed
on our mission! When Pewtrewsha finds out, we
will all be put to sleep.”
There was an audible gasp of dismay and fear
that escaped from the captured children.
“To sleep?” asked one kitten.
“Forever,” answered the boy.
“Enough!” Blackbeard boomed, his anger
directed squarely at the boy who dared be so
defiant. “No one shall put any of ye to sleep! Not
so long as I shall protect ye! And I shall ‘til
Pewtrewsha be defeated sorely!”
Many children smiled at this hopeful boast
from this tremendous man before them. But the
boy who had warned of Pewtrewsha’s wrath was
not convinced.
“How?” challenged the boy. “None of our
parents were able to stop her. And my father was
as big as you! Were any of our parents able to
protect us? No! Not one! Pewtrewsha is a
sorceress. The Land of Longing belongs to her as
does everyone in it. Including these newcomers
here. Pewtrewsha will deal with all of us in due
time.”
Brownbeard looked fearfully at his cousin. He
could see that Blackbeard was enraged. He was
very frightened for this boy who so openly
questioned whether his cousin could do what he
said he could do. This was a boy heading for a
spanking. Blackbeard walked over near to where
the boy was.
“Easy B.B. Easy,” Brownbeard whispered
under his breath.
“What be your name?” Blackbeard asked the
boy.
“Pedro,” was the boy’s answer.
“Aye, Pedro,” said Blackbeard, tugging at his
beard and getting down on one knee so they could
speak to one another eyeball to eyeball. “I like
that name. Brings back memories your name does.
I once knew a man by that name who sailed for the
Spanish King and Queen. Most of the time our
swords be crossed, as I take any ship I see no
matter what flag it be flyin’ under. Many a time
Pedro de Scallion and I exchanged words and
more. But during one voyage, I flew me ships
under the colors of Spain. Pedro and I, we got to
know one another. He joined me on me ship as an
honored guest for dinner once, and I onboard his,”
said Blackbeard.
Thus far, Pedro looked unimpressed with
Blackbeard’s story.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, young lad. This Pedro
who ye be remindin’ me of weren’t me best friend.
No! Ho! Ho! Not by any stretch of the
imagination! But he be a fine sailor and a brave
and honorable man. Now I don’t know if ye be
honorable. It takes time to know that about
another man. Sometimes ye can never tell that
about a body. But ye be brave! That is plain to
see. And for that, ye be remindin’ me of him,”
said Blackbeard.
Pedro squirmed on the ground where he was
sitting.
“Pedro de Scallion was an honorable man
because he always tried to do the right thing. He
fought fair. He used strategy and surprise to his
advantage whenever possible, but he never
harmed a body when there be another option.
Never ever did he harm women or children. And
he always gave captured enemies the chance to
either join the service of Spain, or be left upon an
island where they might find sustenance. He never
compromised his principles even unto death. Aye!
A brave and honorable man was Pedro de
Scallion,” said Blackbeard. “Be as honorable as
he young Pedro, and ye shall be all right I
warrant.”
Blackbeard’s men all removed their hats and
looked up to heaven. A few had tears in their eyes.
“Now tell me this young Pedro, if ye don’t
mind. Have ye ever known a soldier who be a-
freed by the sorceress Pewtrewsha?”
Pedro slowly shook his head no.
“Ah!” said Blackbeard. “Now that I find most
curious. And yet this Pewtrewsha! She a-promises
that if ye be a good soldier, then free ye shall be!
Now, tell me this, young Pedro. Were there at one
time boys and girls and pups and kittens who be
older then ye, and they had been the soldiers when
ye had been a-workin’ in the rock factory?”
Pedro nodded his head ‘yes.’
“And were there many of these boys and girls
and pups and kittens who came before ye, or just
a few?” asked Blackbeard.
“Many,” said Pedro quietly.
“Many! Many ye say! Well then! Pedro? Where
be all of these children who came before ye? Do
ye see any in the villages? Do ye see any of the
freed soldiers?”
Blackbeard shifted from one knee to the other,
and then leaned in real close so that his and Pedro’
s noses were nearly tip to tip.
“Pedro, tell me this,” said Blackbeard softly, so
that everyone else around had to lean in close to
hear. “Did ye yerself have any older brothers or
sisters? Any puppy dogs or kitty cats that maybe
Pewtrewsha came and took before she took you
away from your mother and father?”
Pedro looked very angry. His dark eyes looked
right back at the pirate. But he shook his head yes.
“Yes. My brother,” said Pedro softly, his voice
breaking ever so slightly.
“Did ye ever see your brother again?”
“Once,” said Pedro. “Once in the factory where
I was cutting stones. He was on duty as a guard.”
“Yes,” said Blackbeard.
“But he acted like he didn’t know me,” said
Pedro, still keeping his chin up, refusing to shed a
tear.
“Because the sorceress feeds ye gruel to cloud
your mind?” asked Blackbeard.
“I don’t know,” said Pedro.
“Aye! Blast ye boy! Tell me the truth! If
Pewtrewsha be a-fixin’ to have her vengeance on
ye, and all of us as well, do ya think ye can save
your skin now? Why did your brother not
recognize ye? How is it ye recognized him?”
“Because!” shouted Pedro, “Because
Pewtrewsha would have punished us if we
recognized one another! Okay! Okay! Yes! The
gruel dulls your senses. But if you fight it you can
remember things. Some things. My brother saw
me. I know he knew who I was. But he was scared
I guess. So was I. Are you happy now? You got
your answer.”
Blackbeard didn’t say anything. He just looked
at Pedro and nodded.
“I don’t know where the older soldiers go,” said
Pedro. “I don’t care to know. What’s the
difference? Just leave us alone. You and your
men have only made things worse for all of us.”
“Maybe Pewtrewsha sends the freed soldiers
somewhere else,” said another boy who was
sitting near Pedro and Blackbeard. “Maybe she
sends them to the Empire of Sa’Laam. Maybe they
become rock hitters like The Emperor or that
Captain fella we heard about.”
“Don’t be stupid!” snapped Pedro. “She feeds
us gruel. And not much at that. We sleep in filth.
She gives us nothing while we serve her. Why
would she then spend any of her wealth to send
the freed soldiers somewhere far away? What if
some of us grew up and came back to put an end
to her rule?”
“Aye, I think ye be a little harsh there young
Pedro,” said Blackbeard gently. “But ye have a
point. Why would the sorceress do such a thing?
And no one has seen a single freed soldier in the
Land of Longing.” Blackbeard turned to the
woman who refused to let her little son go. “Isn’t
that correct me lady?”
“You are correct sir. No children have ever
come back from the sorceress. I have never seen
or heard of such a thing,” answered the woman.
“So,” said Pickles, “Pewtrewsha plans to put us
all to sleep!”
“Aye,” said Blackbeard. “That’s the way I see
it.”
Pedro looked at Blackbeard, but the harshness
in his eyes was fading.
“Pedro,” said Blackbeard in a clear, strong
voice for all to hear, “I for one am not scared of
this sorceress. Now, maybe I be a fool. But there
be a time to do the right thing no matter the
outcome. That is what it means to be honorable in
me book. Pewtrewsha has destroyed your homes
and families. Do ye want to pay her the respect of
your fear? Or would ye rather pay the sorceress
the wages her tyranny has earned her?”
Pedro looked Blackbeard squarely in the eye.
He understood the pirate’s meaning. Yet he did
not say anything.
“Well, Pedro,” continued Blackbeard. “Ye and
all your comrades are free. No longer shall ye
work in the factories. But no longer are ye to
serve as soldiers either. Ye can go home to search
for your family and friends. Or, ye may come with
us and free the rest of the children that the
sorceress keeps.”
There was a long silence that fell over the little
village courtyard. Pedro looked down at his feet
and seemed lost in thought. The other children all
regarded the bravest from their number.
Blackbeard looked at Brownbeard and shrugged.
He was about to get up from where he kneeled
when Pedro looked up from the ground and said,
“Sir?”
“Aye?” asked Blackbeard, looking the young
man in the eye.
“I will go with you,” said Pedro.
“Aye,” said Blackbeard, shaking his head up
and down, his big white teeth showing through his
thick black beard in a broad smile. “Ye will mate!
Indeed ye will!”
thundered Blackbeard.
“I don’t know!” answered Brownbeard.
“I didn’t come here to fight children!” said
Blackbeard.
“Neither did I!” said Brownbeard.
Blackbeard, Brownbeard, and their crews
gathered in the plaza of this dusty village. Nearly
all of the child soldiers, all dressed in black,
surrendered immediately. Those that did not lay
down their arms were easily subdued being so
weak from hunger.
“Felix! What is the meaning of this?” asked
Brownbeard.
“What do you mean? What is the meaning of
what?” asked Felix.
“Don’t play games with me Felix! You said
Pewtrewsha’s soldiers were terrorizing the
countryside. These are not soldiers! These are
children!” cried Brownbeard.
“I know that! That’s who the soldiers are!
Children. The children are soldiers. The soldiers
are children. So what?”
Blackbeard, Brownbeard, and their crews
looked at one another in stunned silence. Could
that really be? Children as soldiers? Trained to
steal other children and threaten and kill? No!
That could not be.
“That makes no sense, Felix,” said Brownbeard.
“Awful,” whispered Hazel.
The woman whom Blackbeard’s well aimed
shot had saved walked over to them. “The boy
knows nothing different,” said the woman,
gesturing to Felix. “That is how things are in the
Land of Longing.”
Brownbeard took a closer look at the army of
kids they had just disarmed. There were boys and
girls, pups and kittens, of all shape, size and color.
They looked thin and sad. A few had defiance in
their eyes, but no strength to resist their captors.
The soldier children now sat down with their legs
crossed and hands folded on their laps as
Blackbeard instructed them. Felix walked over to
a scrappy looking puppy dog with large floppy
ears and dirty matted fur. The pup looked up at
Felix with dull, sorrowful eyes.
“Don’t I know you?” Felix asked the pup.
“I don’t think so,” said the dog.
Felix looked at the dog carefully. His eyes
narrowed as he struggled to remember.
“Maybe not,” said Felix, and turning, he walked
away. The dog just sat there dejected.
Then Felix’s eyes widened. He turned again
and headed towards the dog.
“Yes!” Felix insisted. “When I still had both of
my parents, when I was six, maybe five, a group
of soldiers came to my village. The village of
Tuckin. That was when I lost my parents and you
were stolen. Before that we would play ball
together. I’d throw a ball and you would run and
go get it. You’d bring me the ball and I would
throw it again. Then, you would get tired and not
bring me the ball anymore. You would drop the
ball and come over and lie down by me. I’d
scratch you behind the ears or tummy. We would
do that for hours.”
The dog just looked at Felix with a curious
frown, trying to recollect, hoping that what this
young boy said might be true.
“You would wag your tail as I scratched your
tummy, and if I hit that certain spot, you’d wiggle
your leg furiously. I called you ‘Pickles’ because
you were the only dog in Tuckin who would eat
the pickles I gave you from my lunch. No other
dog wanted those pickles.”
The dog’s eyes slowly grew bright with
recognition.
“Pickles. Yes. I remember. Barely. It was so
long ago.”
“No! Not so long ago! Only a few years,” said
Felix. “It just seems a longer time ago. It’s the
gruel that Pewtrewsha feeds you. What you don’t
forget you barley recall. All your memories seem
so far away and foggy.”
“Felix,” said the dog.
“Yes, Pickles. It’s me,” said Felix.
“Felix! It has been so long! I know it has! I can’t
believe it’s you!” cried Pickles. The dog got up
and licked Felix’s face with joy.
Felix laughed and laughed. This brought
laughter from the pirates. Slowly, the remaining
villagers and many of the child soldiers began to
smile as well.
“Pickles!” shouted Felix.
“That’s me!” cried Pickles.
“I know! I know!” shouted Felix, hugging the
dog with whom he had once played fetch.
“Felix? What happens to the soldiers when they
get too old for Pewtrewsha’s army?” asked Hazel.
“I don’t know,” said Felix.
“Pewtrewsha promised she will free us after
our service is done,” said Pickles.
“Yes,” a young girl spoke up from where she
was sitting. “Those who work hard in the rock
factory may become soldiers. Those who do a
good job as a soldier will be freed. That is what
Pewtrewsha said.”
Many of the children nodded in agreement.
That is what had been said.
“But that will not happen for us now!” shouted
a dark haired boy, with sparkling black eyes, from
where he sat. He was one of the few soldiers who
had tried to resist the pirates. In fact, he was the
one who put up the hardest fight. “We have failed
on our mission! When Pewtrewsha finds out, we
will all be put to sleep.”
There was an audible gasp of dismay and fear
that escaped from the captured children.
“To sleep?” asked one kitten.
“Forever,” answered the boy.
“Enough!” Blackbeard boomed, his anger
directed squarely at the boy who dared be so
defiant. “No one shall put any of ye to sleep! Not
so long as I shall protect ye! And I shall ‘til
Pewtrewsha be defeated sorely!”
Many children smiled at this hopeful boast
from this tremendous man before them. But the
boy who had warned of Pewtrewsha’s wrath was
not convinced.
“How?” challenged the boy. “None of our
parents were able to stop her. And my father was
as big as you! Were any of our parents able to
protect us? No! Not one! Pewtrewsha is a
sorceress. The Land of Longing belongs to her as
does everyone in it. Including these newcomers
here. Pewtrewsha will deal with all of us in due
time.”
Brownbeard looked fearfully at his cousin. He
could see that Blackbeard was enraged. He was
very frightened for this boy who so openly
questioned whether his cousin could do what he
said he could do. This was a boy heading for a
spanking. Blackbeard walked over near to where
the boy was.
“Easy B.B. Easy,” Brownbeard whispered
under his breath.
“What be your name?” Blackbeard asked the
boy.
“Pedro,” was the boy’s answer.
“Aye, Pedro,” said Blackbeard, tugging at his
beard and getting down on one knee so they could
speak to one another eyeball to eyeball. “I like
that name. Brings back memories your name does.
I once knew a man by that name who sailed for the
Spanish King and Queen. Most of the time our
swords be crossed, as I take any ship I see no
matter what flag it be flyin’ under. Many a time
Pedro de Scallion and I exchanged words and
more. But during one voyage, I flew me ships
under the colors of Spain. Pedro and I, we got to
know one another. He joined me on me ship as an
honored guest for dinner once, and I onboard his,”
said Blackbeard.
Thus far, Pedro looked unimpressed with
Blackbeard’s story.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, young lad. This Pedro
who ye be remindin’ me of weren’t me best friend.
No! Ho! Ho! Not by any stretch of the
imagination! But he be a fine sailor and a brave
and honorable man. Now I don’t know if ye be
honorable. It takes time to know that about
another man. Sometimes ye can never tell that
about a body. But ye be brave! That is plain to
see. And for that, ye be remindin’ me of him,”
said Blackbeard.
Pedro squirmed on the ground where he was
sitting.
“Pedro de Scallion was an honorable man
because he always tried to do the right thing. He
fought fair. He used strategy and surprise to his
advantage whenever possible, but he never
harmed a body when there be another option.
Never ever did he harm women or children. And
he always gave captured enemies the chance to
either join the service of Spain, or be left upon an
island where they might find sustenance. He never
compromised his principles even unto death. Aye!
A brave and honorable man was Pedro de
Scallion,” said Blackbeard. “Be as honorable as
he young Pedro, and ye shall be all right I
warrant.”
Blackbeard’s men all removed their hats and
looked up to heaven. A few had tears in their eyes.
“Now tell me this young Pedro, if ye don’t
mind. Have ye ever known a soldier who be a-
freed by the sorceress Pewtrewsha?”
Pedro slowly shook his head no.
“Ah!” said Blackbeard. “Now that I find most
curious. And yet this Pewtrewsha! She a-promises
that if ye be a good soldier, then free ye shall be!
Now, tell me this, young Pedro. Were there at one
time boys and girls and pups and kittens who be
older then ye, and they had been the soldiers when
ye had been a-workin’ in the rock factory?”
Pedro nodded his head ‘yes.’
“And were there many of these boys and girls
and pups and kittens who came before ye, or just
a few?” asked Blackbeard.
“Many,” said Pedro quietly.
“Many! Many ye say! Well then! Pedro? Where
be all of these children who came before ye? Do
ye see any in the villages? Do ye see any of the
freed soldiers?”
Blackbeard shifted from one knee to the other,
and then leaned in real close so that his and Pedro’
s noses were nearly tip to tip.
“Pedro, tell me this,” said Blackbeard softly, so
that everyone else around had to lean in close to
hear. “Did ye yerself have any older brothers or
sisters? Any puppy dogs or kitty cats that maybe
Pewtrewsha came and took before she took you
away from your mother and father?”
Pedro looked very angry. His dark eyes looked
right back at the pirate. But he shook his head yes.
“Yes. My brother,” said Pedro softly, his voice
breaking ever so slightly.
“Did ye ever see your brother again?”
“Once,” said Pedro. “Once in the factory where
I was cutting stones. He was on duty as a guard.”
“Yes,” said Blackbeard.
“But he acted like he didn’t know me,” said
Pedro, still keeping his chin up, refusing to shed a
tear.
“Because the sorceress feeds ye gruel to cloud
your mind?” asked Blackbeard.
“I don’t know,” said Pedro.
“Aye! Blast ye boy! Tell me the truth! If
Pewtrewsha be a-fixin’ to have her vengeance on
ye, and all of us as well, do ya think ye can save
your skin now? Why did your brother not
recognize ye? How is it ye recognized him?”
“Because!” shouted Pedro, “Because
Pewtrewsha would have punished us if we
recognized one another! Okay! Okay! Yes! The
gruel dulls your senses. But if you fight it you can
remember things. Some things. My brother saw
me. I know he knew who I was. But he was scared
I guess. So was I. Are you happy now? You got
your answer.”
Blackbeard didn’t say anything. He just looked
at Pedro and nodded.
“I don’t know where the older soldiers go,” said
Pedro. “I don’t care to know. What’s the
difference? Just leave us alone. You and your
men have only made things worse for all of us.”
“Maybe Pewtrewsha sends the freed soldiers
somewhere else,” said another boy who was
sitting near Pedro and Blackbeard. “Maybe she
sends them to the Empire of Sa’Laam. Maybe they
become rock hitters like The Emperor or that
Captain fella we heard about.”
“Don’t be stupid!” snapped Pedro. “She feeds
us gruel. And not much at that. We sleep in filth.
She gives us nothing while we serve her. Why
would she then spend any of her wealth to send
the freed soldiers somewhere far away? What if
some of us grew up and came back to put an end
to her rule?”
“Aye, I think ye be a little harsh there young
Pedro,” said Blackbeard gently. “But ye have a
point. Why would the sorceress do such a thing?
And no one has seen a single freed soldier in the
Land of Longing.” Blackbeard turned to the
woman who refused to let her little son go. “Isn’t
that correct me lady?”
“You are correct sir. No children have ever
come back from the sorceress. I have never seen
or heard of such a thing,” answered the woman.
“So,” said Pickles, “Pewtrewsha plans to put us
all to sleep!”
“Aye,” said Blackbeard. “That’s the way I see
it.”
Pedro looked at Blackbeard, but the harshness
in his eyes was fading.
“Pedro,” said Blackbeard in a clear, strong
voice for all to hear, “I for one am not scared of
this sorceress. Now, maybe I be a fool. But there
be a time to do the right thing no matter the
outcome. That is what it means to be honorable in
me book. Pewtrewsha has destroyed your homes
and families. Do ye want to pay her the respect of
your fear? Or would ye rather pay the sorceress
the wages her tyranny has earned her?”
Pedro looked Blackbeard squarely in the eye.
He understood the pirate’s meaning. Yet he did
not say anything.
“Well, Pedro,” continued Blackbeard. “Ye and
all your comrades are free. No longer shall ye
work in the factories. But no longer are ye to
serve as soldiers either. Ye can go home to search
for your family and friends. Or, ye may come with
us and free the rest of the children that the
sorceress keeps.”
There was a long silence that fell over the little
village courtyard. Pedro looked down at his feet
and seemed lost in thought. The other children all
regarded the bravest from their number.
Blackbeard looked at Brownbeard and shrugged.
He was about to get up from where he kneeled
when Pedro looked up from the ground and said,
“Sir?”
“Aye?” asked Blackbeard, looking the young
man in the eye.
“I will go with you,” said Pedro.
“Aye,” said Blackbeard, shaking his head up
and down, his big white teeth showing through his
thick black beard in a broad smile. “Ye will mate!
Indeed ye will!”
The Adventures of Short Stubbly Brownbeard
Alan J. Levine
* * *
Chapter Forty-One
Buy yer hard copy
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children's literature?
That's great! But
instead, why don't you
go to the followin'
links to buy yer own
miserable copy of
Brownbeard and
support Pirates
Anonymous? We've
been assisting pirates
with mental health and
hygiene issues since
1633. Brownbeard is
also available to
schools and libraries
through wholesalers
like Follett, Ingram,
and Baker & Taylor.
