By: Lisa Anne Hetu
The day started peacefully, but the night had been rough. Captain Topher and crew
had stayed up all night eating cookies from their last voyage, and now they were
stuffed from the bakies and tired. Mikey the Genius Parrot, who of course, hadn't
eaten any cookies, now sat perched on the rail of the ship, squawking and laughing
at the crew's misfortune. And just when the parrot wasn't looking, Steve flailed his
arm at the bird, and Mikey went plummeting into the ocean with a tiny splash. Only
moments later, Mikey found himself perched once again on the ship's rail with soggy
plumage and a fluffed up little body. "Steve, how many times have I told you not to
touch the parrot!" Topher scolded, "You nearly killed the poor thing, I should have
you walk the plank."
"It's a good thing parrots can swim, huh?" Mike commented.
"Squawk! I can't swim, you dolt!" Mikey shrieked, feeling very put out by his
little swim.
"Then, how did you get back up here so quickly?" Topher wondered.
"I was pushed! Squawk!" Mikey said, and hopped down onto the deck to
walk to Captain Topher's feet.
"Pushed? By what?" Topher asked, picking up the little parrot, and wiping it
dry with his red sash.
"Mermaids" Mikey said.
Steve and Mike were surprised by the bird's answer, and for a moment
thought he was lying. But within the next moment, both Steve and Mike were leaning
over the edge of the ship, trying to see mermaids. "Get away from there, both of
you" Captain Topher scolded ... it seemed he was doing that alot today. It must've
been the cookies.
"But Cap'n, what if there really are mermaids?" Mike asked.
"There aren't, and if there were we would never see one anyway" Topher
said, "Mermaid's aren't stupid you know."
"Didn't you just say there weren't any..." Steve started to point out.
"There aren't, now both of you swab the deck." Topher ordered, putting Mikey
on his shoulder and taking the helm.
Suddenly, there was a creak and a crash. Steve and Mike lost their balance
and landed on their sides. Captain Topher caught his balance on the helm, but
Mikey was thrown from his perch atop Topher's shoulder. The little bird, got up and
wobbled for a few minutes before shaking off the dizziness and squawking "Land
ho!"
Steve got up with a grumble and tried to kick Mikey, but he missed. "Stupid
bird... you had plenty of time to tell us that there was an island up ahead."
"Steve!" Topher warned, and picked up Mikey, "You need to have more
patience, he's still learning. Mike, status report."
"We smashed into an island, and it appears the ship is beached." Mike said,
peering over the side of the ship.
"Well, get it unstuck then ... Steve go with him." Topher said.
Mike and Steve got off the ship grumbling, and sank their feet into the mud
that surrounded the ship. They set their footing and began to push, putting all their
weight onto the ship. Captain Topher stood at the edge of the ship, with Mikey on
his shoulder, and oversaw the operation. "Come on men, you can do it" Topher
coaxed.
"Squawk! Put your backs into it little ones!" Mikey chirped.
This angered Steve to the point where his strength alone could have freed
the ship. Suddenly, the boat was jarred loose from the mud and floated backwards
a good few feet in the water. Steve and Mike lost their balance and landed face first
in the mud. Mikey the Genius Parrot killed himself laughing. Steve was ready to
shoot the bird, but just as he was climbing back on board to strangle Mikey, their
was a cry for help. "Mike get back up here and out of the mud, there's a damsel in
distress!" Topher said, and steered his ship towards the voice.
"Help! Somebody, help me!" Laurel shouted, "I'm stuck!"
Captain Topher saw the young girl sitting in the water by a group of rocks,
just off-shore from the island. "Steve, take the helm, and steer us closer to those
rocks." Captain Topher said.
As the ship neared the rocks, Captain Topher tied himself to a rope and had
Mike lower him down to the damsel in distress. "What seems to be the trouble
miss?" Topher asked.
"I was sunbathing on these rocks, but when I climbed down my hair got stuck
between them." Laurel explained, "I'm stuck here, please do something."
Captain Topher looked the situation over. Here sat a pretty girl, trapped
against a group of jagged rocks. Her long golden brown hair lay tangled between
the rocks, and the tide was surely about to come in any moment. "I'm afraid I'm
going to have to chop your hair miss." Topher said, sadly.
"My name is Laurel," she said, "Just do what you have to, I need to be free."
"Hair grows back. Squawk!" Mikey reminded Topher from up on deck.
"Well, alright then" Topher said, "Please forgive me."
And with that, he took his dagger and chopped off Laurel's beautiful hair. No
sooner had she been freed, then Laurel dove into the ocean and swam away,
revealing her emerald fish tail for the first time to Captain Topher. Mike and Steve
had seen it too. "My God, she was a mermaid!" Mike exclaimed.
"Cap'n, you saved a mermaid!" Steve said, just as in shock as everyone
else.
However, Mikey was stupefied by their excitement. "Of course, she was a
mermaid!" Mikey squawked, "Simpletons! Squawk!"
Steve turned to Mikey, glared at him for a moment, and then started chasing
the genius parrot across the deck. Mike, meanwhile, pulled Captain Topher back
on deck just in time. "Steve! Leave Mikey alone!" Topher yelled.
And Mikey flew to the top of the mast to be look-out for the rest of the day.
The End.
