“B.B.,” said Brownbeard, “I can’t make a decision like that right
now.”
“What!?!” boomed Blackbeard.
“I mean, I can’t just decide to go off and be a pirate tonight.
Please, don’t get me wrong. I think I would love it—”
“Then why hesitate to decide cuz?” Blackbeard asked in a
serious tone. “Look, I’ve lived a long and full life on the sea. It’s
not always been easy. But I tell ya that it satisfies me like nothing
else. I wakes up every mornin’ feeling good to be alive! Now ya
just take a moment and think laddy. You wanna be a land-lubber all
your life, trapped in some fancy schmancy office all day? Oh sure,
you’ll get your stock options and matchin’ retirement plan, so
you’ll be feelin’ all safe and secure. But if things ever get in a jam,
think you’ll see a friend around? Nah! It’s every man for himself.
You’ll find you're just so much ballast on a sinkin’ ship. Walk the
plank, matey!
“Ah, but your a smart boy, Brownie. That won’t happen to you,
will it? You’ll negotiate yourself a golden parachute with no holes,
right? And if ya be a good widdle boy and play the game by the
rules, you’ll get your keys to the executive washroom someday!
But ya know somethin’ laddy? I’ve stood in lots of different
washrooms at all manner of commode. Wooden handles, brass
handles, ivory, gold—I tell you the flush and the view is the same!
Come with me and you’ll have all the keys ya want! Right now! No
waiting!”
Brownbeard looked blankly at the plate in front of him with half-
eaten morsels of seafood and a half-clean napkin lying on it. He
spoke his words slowly, with regret even as they left his lips. “I
have to consider a lot of things. My life isn’t so simple.”
Blackbeard snorted in disapproval.
“No, B.B.,” said Brownbeard. “Hear me out. I have to take the
job offers I’ve received seriously. All the men in our family have
made their living on the sea a-fishin’ or on the land a-farmin’.
You’re the first person in our clan to make a name for himself—”
“But your folks don’t approve of me line of work. Is that the
problem?” asked Blackbeard in a glowering tone.
“No! No! Heck, no!” protested Brownbeard. Then, remembering
that no lies shall come between them, he said hesitantly, “Well,
maybe a little. I mean come on B.B. They’re my very own parents.
You can’t expect me to not consider their feelings. Can you?”
Blackbeard looked down now. He didn’t say anything for a bit.
Then he said, “No, of course not laddy.”
“They are fond of you B.B., but you’re right. It is your chosen
profession they’re not thrilled about.”
“My work is who I am. It’s what I am,” said Blackbeard softly.
Brownbeard felt sad. He knew he was really hurting his cousin’s
feelings. That was the last thing in the world he wanted to do.
“B.B.,” said Brownbeard, “I’ve got a chance to do something no
other person in our family has done. I can’t just follow the path of
glamour and riches, tempting though it may be. Marrying, settling
down, having children and growing old quietly is another good way
to live a life. Like a sweet dream.”
Blackbeard sighed.
“I’m torn, B.B.,” Brownbeard continued. “I really am torn. I don’t
know which way to go.”
There followed several long, long seconds of silence that you only
find in the wee hours of the morning, after the night critters have
gone to sleep, and before the day critters have decided to get out
of their beds. As if in a trance, Blackbeard aimlessly picked up a
shrimp from his plate and popped it in his mouth shell and all.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
“If you could just give me some time to think about it,” said
Brownbeard. “Three days, that’s all I need.”
Blackbeard said nothing.
“Two? Two days, B.B. Give me two days to think it over.
That’s all I need,” said Brownbeard.
Blackbeard said nothing.
“One day? Give me one day to think about it, B.B. One day.
That’s all I need,” said Brownbeard.
“No,” said the pirate. “I’m a-leavin’ within the hour laddy. Me
crew’s already waitin’ for me. The ship’s a-ready. But you’re not
ready. If you were there’d be no hesitation on your part. No need
for all this thinkin’. A pirate can’t hesitate. Life’s too quick for a
pirate to dream.”
Brownbeard gasped.
“Surely you jest, B.B. Pirates must dream,” said Brownbeard.
Blackbeard just looked without expression at the wall. No, not at
the wall. Through the wall. Past the wall to a place a million miles
away. Brownbeard grew sadder and sadder just sitting there. He
wondered if his famous, highly successful cousin still liked him at
all, let alone possessed a shred of respect for him.
As if to answer Brownbeard’s doubt, Blackbeard said, “Ahhh!
Laddy! This life! It’s confusin’. I can’t hold it against ya for not
knowin’ what ye wants. Go and be a land-lubber, Brownie. You’re
still my cuz and I still love ya. But like I said, I gots to get a-goin’.
Maybe someday you’ll be ready to go a-piratin’ with me. Until
then, you be good and keep dreamin’.”
With that the pirate jumped to his feet. Immediately the keeper
and his staff entered the room and began clearing the plates.
Blackbeard walked quickly to the door, his pitch black sailing coat
billowing behind him. Whirling about on one heel to face the still
seated Brownbeard he said, “Though it be in the witchin’ hour
‘tween dark and light, no thief or mugger shall assail ye on your
walk home cousin. Send my best regards to Uncle and Auntie.”
With that, Blackbeard exited. Brownbeard pushed himself up
from the table.
“Wait, B.B.! Wait a second!” cried Brownbeard.
Brownbeard raced out of the private dining room into the main
room of the tavern. Blackbeard was already out of sight, as were
the pirate crew who had stood watch while the cousins were eating,
drinking, and talking. Only one man stood behind the bar cleaning
glasses. Racing outside, Brownbeard looked up and down the
street. The flicker of dim lights shone weak along the docks like
stars through overcast. Brownbeard thought he heard singing and
laughing in the distance. But there was no sign of Blackbeard the
Pirate or any of his men. Brownbeard knew B.B.’s ship wouldn’t be
alongside the other ships in port. Even in the bad part of town, it
could never be bad enough for Blackbeard. Brownbeard had no
idea which way to go looking for his cousin’s vessel.
Brownbeard walked dejectedly back through the streets of old
New Ferry, into newer New Ferry, into newest New Ferry, and
right out of New Ferry. He walked along the dark country road for
a few miles to the little house where he and his parents lived. The
sky above was now a purplish blue as the still distant Sun began its
slow crawl up to the horizon. But under cover of the forest, the path
Brownbeard walked was dark as midnight. Approaching the door,
Brownbeard could hear the reassuring slosh of water from the inlet
against his father’s boat.
He sighed and opened the door where just a few hours ago,
Blackbeard had dragged him into the night, giving him a good
scare. Shutting the door, Brownbeard tip-toed up the stairs. Dad
would be getting up soon. His folks would wonder why he was so
tired should they try to wake him. He hoped they wouldn’t be upset
when he told them he’d been out carousing with B.B.
Crawling into his warm bed, Brownbeard stretched his tired legs.
Curling and uncurling his toes, the bed tipped backwards. Sliding
off the mattress, Brownbeard fell head first into the Land of Nod.
now.”
“What!?!” boomed Blackbeard.
“I mean, I can’t just decide to go off and be a pirate tonight.
Please, don’t get me wrong. I think I would love it—”
“Then why hesitate to decide cuz?” Blackbeard asked in a
serious tone. “Look, I’ve lived a long and full life on the sea. It’s
not always been easy. But I tell ya that it satisfies me like nothing
else. I wakes up every mornin’ feeling good to be alive! Now ya
just take a moment and think laddy. You wanna be a land-lubber all
your life, trapped in some fancy schmancy office all day? Oh sure,
you’ll get your stock options and matchin’ retirement plan, so
you’ll be feelin’ all safe and secure. But if things ever get in a jam,
think you’ll see a friend around? Nah! It’s every man for himself.
You’ll find you're just so much ballast on a sinkin’ ship. Walk the
plank, matey!
“Ah, but your a smart boy, Brownie. That won’t happen to you,
will it? You’ll negotiate yourself a golden parachute with no holes,
right? And if ya be a good widdle boy and play the game by the
rules, you’ll get your keys to the executive washroom someday!
But ya know somethin’ laddy? I’ve stood in lots of different
washrooms at all manner of commode. Wooden handles, brass
handles, ivory, gold—I tell you the flush and the view is the same!
Come with me and you’ll have all the keys ya want! Right now! No
waiting!”
Brownbeard looked blankly at the plate in front of him with half-
eaten morsels of seafood and a half-clean napkin lying on it. He
spoke his words slowly, with regret even as they left his lips. “I
have to consider a lot of things. My life isn’t so simple.”
Blackbeard snorted in disapproval.
“No, B.B.,” said Brownbeard. “Hear me out. I have to take the
job offers I’ve received seriously. All the men in our family have
made their living on the sea a-fishin’ or on the land a-farmin’.
You’re the first person in our clan to make a name for himself—”
“But your folks don’t approve of me line of work. Is that the
problem?” asked Blackbeard in a glowering tone.
“No! No! Heck, no!” protested Brownbeard. Then, remembering
that no lies shall come between them, he said hesitantly, “Well,
maybe a little. I mean come on B.B. They’re my very own parents.
You can’t expect me to not consider their feelings. Can you?”
Blackbeard looked down now. He didn’t say anything for a bit.
Then he said, “No, of course not laddy.”
“They are fond of you B.B., but you’re right. It is your chosen
profession they’re not thrilled about.”
“My work is who I am. It’s what I am,” said Blackbeard softly.
Brownbeard felt sad. He knew he was really hurting his cousin’s
feelings. That was the last thing in the world he wanted to do.
“B.B.,” said Brownbeard, “I’ve got a chance to do something no
other person in our family has done. I can’t just follow the path of
glamour and riches, tempting though it may be. Marrying, settling
down, having children and growing old quietly is another good way
to live a life. Like a sweet dream.”
Blackbeard sighed.
“I’m torn, B.B.,” Brownbeard continued. “I really am torn. I don’t
know which way to go.”
There followed several long, long seconds of silence that you only
find in the wee hours of the morning, after the night critters have
gone to sleep, and before the day critters have decided to get out
of their beds. As if in a trance, Blackbeard aimlessly picked up a
shrimp from his plate and popped it in his mouth shell and all.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
“If you could just give me some time to think about it,” said
Brownbeard. “Three days, that’s all I need.”
Blackbeard said nothing.
“Two? Two days, B.B. Give me two days to think it over.
That’s all I need,” said Brownbeard.
Blackbeard said nothing.
“One day? Give me one day to think about it, B.B. One day.
That’s all I need,” said Brownbeard.
“No,” said the pirate. “I’m a-leavin’ within the hour laddy. Me
crew’s already waitin’ for me. The ship’s a-ready. But you’re not
ready. If you were there’d be no hesitation on your part. No need
for all this thinkin’. A pirate can’t hesitate. Life’s too quick for a
pirate to dream.”
Brownbeard gasped.
“Surely you jest, B.B. Pirates must dream,” said Brownbeard.
Blackbeard just looked without expression at the wall. No, not at
the wall. Through the wall. Past the wall to a place a million miles
away. Brownbeard grew sadder and sadder just sitting there. He
wondered if his famous, highly successful cousin still liked him at
all, let alone possessed a shred of respect for him.
As if to answer Brownbeard’s doubt, Blackbeard said, “Ahhh!
Laddy! This life! It’s confusin’. I can’t hold it against ya for not
knowin’ what ye wants. Go and be a land-lubber, Brownie. You’re
still my cuz and I still love ya. But like I said, I gots to get a-goin’.
Maybe someday you’ll be ready to go a-piratin’ with me. Until
then, you be good and keep dreamin’.”
With that the pirate jumped to his feet. Immediately the keeper
and his staff entered the room and began clearing the plates.
Blackbeard walked quickly to the door, his pitch black sailing coat
billowing behind him. Whirling about on one heel to face the still
seated Brownbeard he said, “Though it be in the witchin’ hour
‘tween dark and light, no thief or mugger shall assail ye on your
walk home cousin. Send my best regards to Uncle and Auntie.”
With that, Blackbeard exited. Brownbeard pushed himself up
from the table.
“Wait, B.B.! Wait a second!” cried Brownbeard.
Brownbeard raced out of the private dining room into the main
room of the tavern. Blackbeard was already out of sight, as were
the pirate crew who had stood watch while the cousins were eating,
drinking, and talking. Only one man stood behind the bar cleaning
glasses. Racing outside, Brownbeard looked up and down the
street. The flicker of dim lights shone weak along the docks like
stars through overcast. Brownbeard thought he heard singing and
laughing in the distance. But there was no sign of Blackbeard the
Pirate or any of his men. Brownbeard knew B.B.’s ship wouldn’t be
alongside the other ships in port. Even in the bad part of town, it
could never be bad enough for Blackbeard. Brownbeard had no
idea which way to go looking for his cousin’s vessel.
Brownbeard walked dejectedly back through the streets of old
New Ferry, into newer New Ferry, into newest New Ferry, and
right out of New Ferry. He walked along the dark country road for
a few miles to the little house where he and his parents lived. The
sky above was now a purplish blue as the still distant Sun began its
slow crawl up to the horizon. But under cover of the forest, the path
Brownbeard walked was dark as midnight. Approaching the door,
Brownbeard could hear the reassuring slosh of water from the inlet
against his father’s boat.
He sighed and opened the door where just a few hours ago,
Blackbeard had dragged him into the night, giving him a good
scare. Shutting the door, Brownbeard tip-toed up the stairs. Dad
would be getting up soon. His folks would wonder why he was so
tired should they try to wake him. He hoped they wouldn’t be upset
when he told them he’d been out carousing with B.B.
Crawling into his warm bed, Brownbeard stretched his tired legs.
Curling and uncurling his toes, the bed tipped backwards. Sliding
off the mattress, Brownbeard fell head first into the Land of Nod.
Buy yer hard copy
at . . .
at . . .
Alan J. Levine
* * *
Chapter Four - Difficult Decisions
