Captain Ahab: My children's book

My children spend a lot of time in the car! Everything in Texas is a long way away so we drive and drive and drive and while we were driving the kids used to bicker and squabble and fight and I used to lose my cool completely. So, I started telling the kiddoes stories. We started with stories from Greek mythology and once we had exhausted all the stories that didn't involve incest or rape or other nasties not suitable for wee ones we did tales from Cornish myth.

Cornish myth/folktales are brilliant and we really liked those so we became inspired by the seaside which in turn lead to a vacation down by the sea here, on the Gulf of Mexico.

Captain Ahab was the product of our trip to Mustang Island. I LOVED writing the stories and even went as far as to send it to a children's literary agent whence it was returned to me. :( However.......I liked it so here it is!

Cap’n Ahab goes Trick and Treating

Cap’n Ahab looked at the witch’s hat wobbling on his wife’s head and decided not to laugh, nor even to smile. He felt that Mrs. Ahab would not appreciate it.

“It’s Halloween Ahab, and everyone needs to do their part to make it fun for the children in the village. What are you going to dress up as?”

“Eh?” asked Cap’n Ahab, startled into replying. “No-one’s said anything to me about dressing up.  We, sea captains don’t dress up. We always look like sea captains so that everyone knows who we are.” It was true that Cap’n Ahab did look like a sea captain in his blue trousers, stripy shirt and blue coat. He had seven outfits all exactly the same and they were all very comfortable thank you!

“It’s not good enough Ahab. You’ve got to do your bit too. It’s for the good of the community and the kiddies are expecting it. You do have grandchildren in this community you know.”

            The word, “grandchildren’ made Cap’n Ahab sit up a little straighter and think a little harder. He did love his grandchildren very much. He had eleven grandchildren and they were all very naughty but had good hearts. Nine great-Ahabs lived right there in the village of Mousehole and three were growing up, “as foreigners” as Mrs. Ahab was fond of complaining in a part of America called Texas. Abby, Bea and James lived with their Mum and Dad in a small seaside town called Port Aransas where their Dad was a professor at the nearby university. Abby, Bea and James visited (you may recall) every summer and had adventures with Cap’n Ahab and Big Maggie and in the months in between they spoke on the telephone and sent letters to each other in bottles that they threw in to the sea at their end and somehow washed up on the shore in Mousehole.

            “For the Grandlies”, echoed Cap’n Ahab. “Hmmmm, for the Grandlies” he repeated. “I could do something for the kiddies I suppose. Everyone should do his or her part. It’s only proper. Abby, Bea and James told me about Halloween over there in America. They does some outlandish custom called Trick or Treating. They dresses up in a costume and with a grown up to keep ‘em safe they goes from house to house, rings on the front door bell and asks them whether they’d like a trick or a treat. Reckon as I could organize a treat or two that these kids in Mousehole have never seen before.”

            There was an idea growing in the back of Cap’n Ahab’s mind. An idea that seemed so perfect for Halloween. He felt sure that with the help of some of his friends he could pull it off.

           

The night before Halloween, Cap’n Ahab was visiting the vicar over at St. Endellion’s church. He liked to go and talk to the vicar. It was pitch black outside and awfully cold and windy. Cap’n Ahab was feeling very anxious about his plan for Halloween the following evening but his chat with the vicar had helped him feel a bit better.

            “I’ll see you at 6:00 tomorrow night Ahab”, promised the vicar. It’ll be a grand evening. I’ll be sure to visit the schools in Mousehole tomorrow and tell all the children about the plan to trick or treat tomorrow night. They’ll have some time after school to think of a costume. After I’ve visited the school I’ll visit the shops on the high street and ask them to stay open late with the lights on and some bowls of treats. I daresay that the children of Mousehole will remember this for years. Trust you to dream up this scheme. You must have some good friends to help you pull it off.” He laughed, “friends with a strong constitution too! I wouldn’t want to be in the harbor water at this time of year.” With a cheery wave the young vicar started his walk home up the narrow cobbled street to the parsonage where his wife probably already had a nice hot meal waiting for him.

Captain Ahab’s own tummy was feeling a bit empty too, but he had work to do before he could go home to his own dinner. Whistling to Big Maggie who had had the sense to find a sheltered spot in which to shelter, Captain Ahab started the long trek from St. Endellion’s down to the quay where Bert and the Salty Nellie were waiting for him to skipper them on an unusual trip out to sea.

“Think they’ll all be there on a night like this?” Cap’n Ahab asked Big Maggie, “There’s a fierce sou’wester tonight. We may not find them.” “Of course they’ll be there,” said Big Maggie, “You told them 6:30 and they’ll be there on the dot.” Cap’n Ahab stopped and looked at Big Maggie. “Not Bert and Nellie. I mean them – our sea friends or at least some of them.’ We need them to help us. Without them the treat I have in mind isn’t much of a treat at all. Well only time’ll tell I suppose and me standing here nattering on isn’t going to help.” Big Maggie agreed and the two of them walked on against the wind.

When they arrived at the quay, the Salty Nellie was bobbing crazily up and down, and Bert was watching out for them. “Ahoy there Cap’n Ahab. Ahoy there Big Maggie. To be sure it’s going to be a bumpy ride this evening. Are you sure that we’ll even find them tonight Cap’n?” He looked anxiously at Cap’n Ahab who answered more cheerfully and certainly than he really felt. “Of course, of course. Now let’s get going. Time and tide wait for no man you know.”

The Salty Nellie chugged out of the harbor, her fairy lights twinkling and the icon of St. Nektarios swinging with the motion of the ship. Big Maggie settled herself in the prow of the ship and Bert, pipe between teeth, stood at the ship’s wheel, guiding the boat. Cap’n Ahab sat on his three-legged stool and tracked their progress by the stars he could see behind the scudding clouds. “Bert,” called Cap’n Ahab, “We’re going too far north. Head east and hug the coast.” Bert did as he was told and they continued on their course for a good long while. Just as Bert was going to ask if they were still going the right way, Cap’n Ahab spoke excitedly, “This be it Bert. If they’re not at home watching Oceanvision on a night like tonight then this is where they’ll be. Weigh anchor! Weigh anchor!” Bert promptly did as he was told. He was a trusty ship’s mate after all and just as the Salty Nellie’s anchor rattled down into Davy Jones’ locker Big Maggie started running around in little circles and barking furiously. Cap’n Ahab stood up stiffly. The cold weather was hard on his arthritis. “Hush now Big Maggie. It’s nowt but our friend Arianna. What kind of a welcome is that to give a friend? Settle down old girl.”

“Who are you calling an old girl?” came a giggling voice from the starboard side of the ship. “I may be 963 years old but that’s young for a mermaid.”

“Ahoy there young merlady. A pleasure it is to be seeing you this evening. I hope as we find you and yours happy and healthy this evening.”

“As always Cap’n Ahab, as always. This part of the British coast does wonders for the health you know. We find it most agreeable.”

Cap’n Ahab nodded and puffed away on his empty pipe, wishing not for the first time that there was something in there to puff on but knowing at the same time how bad actual tobacco is for you. He took the empty pipe out of his mouth and pointed it at Arianna in a friendly manner.

“I’m a bit surprised to find you out and about on a night like this lassie. Did you happen to hear Salty Nellie’s engines?”

“Oh Cap’n Ahab of course not! It’s far too cold for any self-respecting mer-person to be swimming around on the surface of the sea tonight. As you can see I had to wear my seaweed raincoat and matching hat. So much warmer but still keeps in the water! The rest of the family is watching Oceanvision but I told them you needed to see me and up I swam. Now, how can I help you?”

Arianna held on to the side of the Salty Nellie. The ship’s fairy lights reflecting and making pretty patterns on her mother of pearl necklace. Her expression was quizzical.

“But how did you know I needed to see you? Cap’n Ahab sputtered.

“That’s simple. Big Maggie told Albion the sea gull and he found me perched on one of the rocks in Rosemullion Bay when I was combing my hair. He said you’d be out on the water in these parts after 6:30 tonight.”

Cap’n Ahab turned to look at Big Maggie now lying quietly and innocently behind him next to the warm engine of the boat. She returned his stare as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.

“Right you are then lass, right you are. I’ll be quick about it so that you can go back to your Oceanvision show.”

“Ooh yes please,” said Arianna, “it’s Oceana Idol tonight and Tritonia was about to sing. She’s so cool.”

“Right, as I was saying floundered Cap’n Ahab clearly forgetting what he had been about to say. “Tomorrow on land there’s a kind of holiday, a festival as it were, for landlubber children. It’s called Halloween. To cut a long story short I need to provide a treat for the children of Mousehole. I don’t want to give them a load of candy and just rot their teeth; I want to give them something they’ve never seen before. I want them to have an experience that they’ll not forget in a while, something that may just inspire them to imagine a little more or to believe in what they’re told is impossible. You just never know when a memory like that may come in handy to a person. I’ve already arranged for some of the lads to come and put on a bit of a performance in the harbor tomorrow night but I was wondering whether you and some of your sisters, say Thetis and Amphitrite might agree to put on a special guest appearance. All you need to do is to be at the harbor by 7:00 next to the Salty Nellie and when I blow the ship’s horn, just swim to the sea’s surface, smile and wave a bit for about 20 seconds and then disappear.”

“Ooohh, I don’t know Cap’n Ahab”, sighed Arianna. “It does sound a bit risky. There’ll be humans and fishing nets too. Not all humans are as nice as you are. They wouldn’t let a mermaid go back to sea if they caught her.” That indeed was true and Cap’n Ahab knew it for that was how he himself had met Arianna when she was trapped in his fishing nets on one of his earlier adventures as a young lad. Over the long years of their friendship she had told him some sad stories of other mermaids who had not been as fortunate as she.

“Come now Arianna. You know I won’t let any danger come to you.” Said Cap’n Ahab quietly. “I’ll make sure it’s perfectly safe.”

“Well, if you say so, then okay. Let’s hope for a calmer evening tomorrow then. We’ll be there and do you proud. Cheers Big Maggie!” and with that Arianna let go of the side of the Salty Nellie, flicked her tail in a farewell gesture and was gone. It was very quiet after Arianna had gone and all that could be heard was the slapping of the water against the side of the ship and the gentle thrumming of the engines. Bert popped his head around the side of the cabin. “I thought it best to stay in the cabin so as not to spook the young lady” he called, “meaning no pun, it being Halloween an all. Should I put back to shore now?” “That you should Bert,” replied the Cap’n, “That you should’.

            It was a good two hours or more later until Cap’n Ahab was lying tucked up in his berth next to a snoring Mrs. Ahab. His belly was full of smoked haddock and mashed potato but his mind was full of worries, which, as you probably already know is no way to go to bed at night. Cap’n Ahab gently pulled back the bed covers so as not to wake Mrs. Ahab and tucking her back in he put on his favorite stripy dressing gown and stood at the window. “ Lord,” he prayed, “You have blessed me with many things but I’m none too sure that wisdom was one of them. I thank you for this day and for all the impossible things that become possible when I invite You in to them. I’m worried Lord that I’ve made a bad decision. I just pray that You’ll look after everyone tomorrow and make this thing good. I put it in Your hands.” And with that Cap’n Ahab felt he might could sleep now and he went back to bed.

By 6:00 on Halloween evening, the children of Mousehole were very, very excited. An assorted collection of costumes met Cap’n Ahab’s eyes as he hurried down Main Street to meet the vicar down at the harbor. He saw ready made Hannah Montana and Superman costumes, ballerina and football costumes put together hastily at home and some costumes that were hard to identify but still very jolly.

Cap’n Ahab trotted briskly over the cobblestones to where the Salty Nellie lay at her usual berth. Her lights were twinkling orange tonight in honor of the festive occasion. Curiously there was hardly a breath of wind and whereas no one could call it a warm evening by any stretch of the imagination, it was noticeably warmer than the night before. Next to the boat there were several piles of hay bales and some grinning Jack-O’-Lanterns that Bert had carved during the day. An enticing aroma wafted up the street towards Cap’n Ahab and he felt his mouth begin to water.

“For the fish and salt and water, which you gave unto me, came from your creation, they came from the sea,” sang a surprisingly deep baritone voice to the accompaniment of Bert’s accordion.

“Amen Vicar,” echoed Cap’n Ahab, “I agree. That I do, but we must finish up with cooking the fish’n’chips. The tiddlers’ll be up directly.” He clambered on board and stood next to the vicar peering into a large steaming pan of freshly fried fish and chips. The Vicar and Cap’n Ahab had been peeling potatoes all afternoon and preparing the fish that Cap’n Ahab had caught on his way back from his meeting with Arianna the night before.

The sound of giggling children and scuffling feet grew louder and louder until a knot of rosy-faced children jostled each other around the corner and came to a stand still, open-mouthed in front of the Salty Nellie.

“Trick or Treat Granddad?”, called a voice Cap’n Ahab knew very well. “What’ll it be?”

“What kind of a question is that young Edward?” laughed Cap’n Ahab, reaching past the vicar for the salt and pepper. “Do you think I mean to eat all these chips by myself? Come on over young ’uns and fill yer plates. It’s piping hot and there’s plenty to go around. Put all your baskets down and form a line. Roll up, roll up!  Vicar’s already blessed the food.” The children of Mousehole needed no further bidding and pulled or pushed in to line by their grown ups, they made a queue to take a plate from the vicar.

“Granddad”, came a question from young Edward, “Do you think that Abby, Bea and James are having as much fun tonight as we are? I wish they were here. I miss them.” “I know, Edward,” said Cap’n Ahab gruffly, “I know, but something tells me that they’re having some of their own fun over there in Texas.”

The sound of chomping and swallowing was quite audible for a while, broken only by requests for fizzy lemonade or second helpings. Some of the children were already casting looks at their baskets and the candy inside. A couple of mums and dads even looked as though they were ready to start heading home.

Cara, one of Cap’n Ahab’s grandlies had already thrown away her dirty plate and was heading over to the Salty Nellie to give her granddad a hug when something in the harbor made her stop and stare. She leaned in closer to have a better look.

“Wow! Look! There’s a dolphin right there! Right there next to Granddad’s boat! No! There are LOTS of dolphins and they’re doing tricks! Come and see everybody!” She needn’t have said this last bit because as soon as they heard her words every child at the harbor immediately put down their plate or basket and raced down to the harbor wall.

Cap’n Ahab tried to look amazed and surprised as he craned his neck to see what the children were looking at. The vicar had abandoned his post and was standing behind the children as he also watched the lovely dolphins as they danced and leaped in great arcs through the water. He looked as though he was in a trance. “ooooohs and aaaaahhghhs” came from the crowd as Cap’n Ahab blew the ship’s horn just once. “Give me a hand here vicar,” said Cap’n Ahab quickly. “I need to lift this and it’s a bit heavy.” “Of course Captain Ahab”, said the vicar, “Can’t have you hurting your back now can we?” He went on, “I suppose a fisherman like you sees sights like this every day, but for a landlubber like myself that was truly a treat. God’s creation never fails to amaze and delight me.” “Indeed Vicar.” Said Cap’n Ahab respectfully.

There was a sudden sharp silence and then the shrieking began, “I saw a mermaid! I did! I saw a mermaid.” “Me too!”, cried another little girl. She smiled at me.” “I’m not sure”, said a little boy, but I think a mermaid may have waved at me.” “Eh?” said Cap’n Ahab, his back to the sea, “What are you talking about? I don’t see no mermaids, just a few dolphins. Common enough they are in these parts if you know where to look.”

“Quite! Quite!” laughed the Vicar, “Those weren’t mermaids they were dolphins. Goodness me what imaginations you all have. Probably all the excitement and sugar. What do you say we all tell Cap’n Ahab and Bert a big thank you and start to head home? The mums and dads agreed eagerly despite the fact that their offspring clearly wanted to stay.

“Thank you for our treats Granddad”, came Cara’s little voice. “You worked super hard for all of us.” “Yes. Thank you Cap’n Ahab and Bert.” Came a chorus of little voices, “it was so much fun.” “and I did SO see a mermaid,” yawned a little girl sleepily. Cap’n Ahab leaned down and looked her in the eye, “mebbe so”, he said, “mebbe so.”

Cap’n Ahab was just finishing up with his tidying away when he spied a black pointy witch’s hat on the deck of the Salty Nellie. The witch was having all manner of difficulties in keeping her hat on now that the wind has mysteriously gotten up again. Cap’n Ahab still decided against smiling. After all, the witch had been kind enough to walk all the way down to the harbor to check on him.

“I’ve been hearing all sorts of tall tales on my way down here Ahab!” she said. “Candy and pumpkins, fish’n’chips and fizzy pop, dolphins and mermaids. Whatever next I’d like to know?” The witch’s words were sharp but she had a nice smile and a twinkle in her eye. Aren’t you done cleaning up yet Ahab? What’s this old bottle doing next to the wheel? Mrs. Ahab held up an old glass bottle with a cork stopper. She inspected it more closely. “Someone’s been and tricked you Ahab, it being Halloween and all! By the looks of things there’s a message in this bottle. Whatever next indeed!’ and she made as if to throw the bottle in with the other rubbish.

Slowly Cap’n Ahab caught his wife’s arm and quietly stayed her hand. He took the bottle from her and tucked it gently into his jacket pocket to be opened, read and savored at his leisure. “Happen they got me and all”, he said grinning for all the world like one of Bert’s jack-o’-lanterns. “Happy Halloween Mrs. Ahab! Happy Halloween!”