The sound of water washing past the ship was more annoying than usual. The swaying motion of being constantly rocked by the waves was harder on my stomach than usual. After the last port, everyone on ship had too much rum. After last night, everyone had too much of it to drink. I opened my eyes and saw the same mould spot on the same plank of wood.

“What day is it?” Steve asked.

“I was asleep” I replied.

"No you weren't, ye eyes were open," Steve snarled. “Seriously though, we’ve been on this ship for at least six months” he whined.

“It’s still 1897… I think,” I was half asleep.

"Do you think the captain will ever be done with the sea?" Steve asked.

"No, he has nothing left on land. He has no family anymore since the great fire," I replied.

"Do you want to go back home?" Steve asked.

I couldn’t think. Bells Ring!!!

“Time for work… again,” Steve mumbled.

I really didn’t want to get up and go to deck, but Captain was waiting.

I watched as Steve flew out of bed and ran towards the deck.

“Steve Wait!” I cried.

“No way, you’re on your own John,” Steve said as he ran to deck.

No, I’m going to be last to deck. I haven’t been last to deck in weeks, or at least what feels like weeks. I was almost ready. I just need my coat and boots. I look around for my coat, but I can't see it. At least I know where my boots are. They are under my hammock like always. I grabbed my left boot and jumped up and down on my right foot to put it on. I know it sounds stupid, but it’s the fastest way to put on boots. I grabbed my right boot and started jumping again, but then I tripped over something.

“OW!” I screamed.

I heard a huge cracking noise and at first I thought I broke a bone but I checked everywhere from my aching head to my aching back, I was fine. I looked behind me to see a head sized puncture in the floor, “I’m in trouble…” that’s all I could think.

I damaged Captain’s ship. He built it himself before he died, or at least that’s what Captain told us. I put on my other boot while I was on the ground, then I slowly brought myself up. Luckily on my way up I noticed Steve left his coat behind. He must have taken mine by mistake. I grabbed it and was about to leave when I noticed something shiny in the head hole I had made. I went over to grab it. It hurt to lean down, but I was starting to get use to it. It put my hand in the hole, it was cold and damp. I touched something smooth and pulled it out. It was a small silver box with red gems on the top in the shape of a skull, probably rubies. “Maybe this will get me out of trouble” I thought.

The deck was full of crew members, some were swabbing the deck, most were hoisting the main and Steve was keeping look out in the crow’s nest. Everyone was doing something, everyone but me.

“What’ cha got there, lad?” I jumped at the sound of Captain’s voice ... but he wasn’t mad. In fact, I think it worked. He was too interested in the box to even notice I wasn’t working.

“I, I found it…” I was trembling as I spoke. “In the floor, I fell and it was just sitting there. Whatever it is, it’s yours.” That was better.

“Ho-ho, you found it lad,” the Captain spoke in a very pleased voice. “This here be me father’s treasure map, I have been looking for it for me whole life”. I was confused, how was a silver box a map. “Change of plans, we be heading to Cold Beard’s Cave now,” Captain said. Before I knew we were going west into dangerous waters.

The next day we were already at Cold Beard’s Cave and Captain seemed to know exactly where we were going. Once we got close enough to the cave Captain screamed: “anchors down!” He reached down his shirt and pulled out a chain. He kept struggling until he finally got to the key at the end. He opened the box and inside was an old rolled up piece of paper. I tried to look over his shoulder to see what it was, but all I could see were pictures of sharks, red lines and a huge 'X' at the end. 'X' marks the spot ... it really is a treasure map. I wanted to tell Steve but he was in the Crow’s nest already. “Alright Lad, it’s just you and me now” He was talking to me, luckily I was looking at Steve at the time. “Are ye ready, boy?” NO! I thought.

“Captain, why me?” I mumbled.

“Cause ye be me lucky charm now, ye found me map. Now don’t complain”.

I have never seen Captain so happy before. Everything he said was just so cheerful that I couldn’t say no. Captain smiled and patted me on the back. It hurt, but I just smiled back. The crew members put the plank over the edge of the ship to a small rock by the cave. Captain lightly pushed me so I would go first.

The cave was mostly water, so there were very few rocks to walk on, and if that wasn’t hard enough already the cave started to get darker and darker. Suddenly, I could see something shining. Was that a torch? Captain walked past me and grabbed, he seemed to know what he was doing. He pulled out the map and stared at it for a while. I watched him...waiting for him to move with such excitement. He looked at me for a few seconds, then looked at the water. I looked too.

There was something in the water! Was it a fish? In here? The captain shined the torch over it. It was a shark, a tiny little shark no bigger than a coin. Then...I realized there where a lot of them. Everywhere I looked in the water, there were sharks.

“That’s it?” Captain laughed. “The whole time, just follow the sharks, HA!” He seemed disappointed. He quickly started walking again and a lot faster this time. There were lots of turns and ways to go, but there was only one path with those tiny sharks.

It wasn’t long until we both saw the chest. Captain paused; I looked at him to see what he was doing. His dark green eyes started to water, he was looking at the chest as if it was his father himself. He took a small step towards it, then slowly pulled out the key from around his neck again. What was in that chest? Would he share it with me? After all, I am his lucky charm. I couldn’t wait for him to take his time.

He took another step...he was only two steps away...then he took another. I just wanted to scream at him.

“OPEN IT!” ... but I didn’t. I couldn’t. He finally took the last step and opened it, he looked down as if it was what he had always dreamt of.

IT MUST BE TREASURE!

Captain put his hand in the chest and then he started to bring something out of the treasure chest…it’s…it’s, it’s a book? An old green book that had Sally written on the front.

“Sally?” I asked him.

“It’s me mother’s name.”

I walked to the chest to see what else was there, but nothing was there. It was just a book. I should have known that was too easy...just follow the sharks. Then Captain looked at me.

“I owe ye, boy” he said, followed by a hug.

Captain?! Hugging? Then I realized, this was treasure to Captain’s father because it was his love. Not to mention, it was now a treasure to Captain because it's all he has left of his mother. I felt better about there being no real treasure ... but how do I explain this to the crew?