“Excuse me?” My father suddenly asked as he lifted his head from the school application papers, alarmed. I sighed again. He was so hopeless.
“I said I do not want to become a lady! I want to be a sailor! Who cares about me? If you have not noticed, no one is going to care because they’re not going to go through that much trouble.” I said determinedly.
“I care Maxine. How many times do I have to tell you? No. When you grow up, more people will admire you. Don’t worry. You will definitely be just as popular as your mother and I were.”
I stamped my foot which upset my lacey dress. This was not fair.
“I do not care about popularity!”
“Now, now honey. You know that if you run off to be a heathen sailor it will ruin my reputation. I will lose status and money. Think about it,” he answered me back smoothly, his manner changed.
I ran up to my room to cry. My dad looked after me, a bit flustered.
My name is Max and I’ve wanted to become a fearless sailor ever since I was four. I’m now fourteen and live in London where all of my friends wear frippery and come over to each other’s majestic houses to gossip. I have long blond hair, soft brown eyes, and dimples. I take after my mother’s pretty looks, but also my father’s stubborn attitude. He still won’t give in to my constant pleas. Ugh, so mean!
My father wants to enroll me into a special school where they teach you how to be a proper lady. I know my father means well but wearing frilly dresses, a tight corset, slit sleeves, and sipping tea isn’t what I want to do for the rest of my life. I’m sick of being so polite to everyone.
The last day my mother had spent in this world was the day she took me to a theater to watch “Red Dawn”, a popular sailor movie. She died soon after in a heart attack. During the play, she told me the person who she admired most was a sailor. When she died, I promised to make my mother proud and to become her dream. My father continues to protest with all his might. He is a proper gentleman who sips tea with his pinky sticking out. He wants me to become a proper lady like my mother and marry a successful businessman.
It was getting dark. In a few hours, all the trading ships will be leaving for the year because winter was settling in, fast. I had been planning my escape ever since mother died.
Last week I had went into town and bought some trousers and men’s shirts. The man who sold them to me had looked strangely as I paid for them. I hastily said they were for a lover. His suspicion rapidly faded. I needed men’s clothes to dress up in as I made my getaway. No one would notice or recognize me. I had a much better chance of being accepted into a crew as a boy than as a frail and useless girl.
As the sun set, I climbed out the window and dashed toward the dock. I ran up a random gangplank onto a ship called the “Blood Rose”, in trousers and with my hair cut short. I had cut my hair with a kitchen knife a few minutes ago.
“Where you goin’?” asked a boy who looked just a bit older than me but much taller than me. He was in a tattered shirt and black pants. He had bleached blond hair and blue eyes. His eyes were a whole new world compared to my father’s dull and boring ones. These eyes were bottomless, deep, and cunning. He was dirty but had a nice salty sea smell coming from him. I was small and undeveloped for my age. I backed away slowly.
“I’m looking for work as a sailor,” I said proudly with my nose up in a deep voice. He made a short bark somewhat resembling a laugh.
“Look kid, there ain’t no more honest captains looking for sailors anymore. All men now are tainted and contaminated somehow. You don’t want to get involved.” he said with hatred directed at no one in particular.
“What do you mean? Well, honest or not, I am looking for work. Where is your captain?” I said as I looked around.
“You sure? If you join, it’s gonna be the end of a nice carefree life, frolicking wit’ yo boys.” he said with amusement in his eyes. I stiffened.
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“Captain! We gotta shrimp down here wantin’ to join us!” He yelled up, as the ship swayed gently from side to side.
“Oy matey! Wha’ you say?” A booming voice came from somewhere above me. I looked up. An old, round man wearing a ripped and weathered coat walked toward me down a few steps leading to a cabin. I was paralyzed for a moment but quickly recovered. He was so grand looking even in tattered clothing. He was so immense and terrifying that he looked savagely beautiful. Never had I met someone like this. Did all sailors look this bedraggled though? “So, you da one?” I nodded.
“My name is…Max. I want to become a sailor, Captain.” I said as I bowed. He laughed a big, deep belly laugh and brought me and the boy into a spine breaking hug.
“O’ course! O’ course!” He said happily. I couldn’t reply because I was squashed against the boy and the captain.
Hmm...well, I guess that's it for now. Oh, and the "boy probably looked "something?" like this????
taken from photobucket. drawn by iwillrokugirl
yay!!!
this is probably you in women's garb:
yes, I'm not blind, I know there are two people. The one on the left is you. The right one would be you after you cut your hair. Still a bit fancy, I know...but, hey, I couldn't really find anyother ones. Deal with it.
taken from deviantart drawn by glasspunk
you go girls!
msg. me if you have comments! PLEASE. THANK YOU
