Captain Tory

Captain Tory

Waves crashed against the pale-red lighthouse, scattering brick chips around the base – a reminder of the fierce pounding of the ocean. One component unscathed continued throughout the night atop the coastal tower. Would it be the last glimmer for eight-year-old Jake?

Ashley often took her little brother to see the ocean, the only thing that interested him. Although Ashley was 15 and Jake was younger, they pretended to be scavenging for lost ships. When Jake became ill with leukemia, it became difficult for him to focus on things, especially school.

Being a single parent, their mother worked, leaving Ashley in charge of watching her little brother. Every day, she would see the number of bruises on his arms and legs multiply. His skin became discolored to a pale shade every week, and his frail body became more brittle, but it did not stop Jake from playing and laughing as if nothing were wrong.

Mother called from the kitchen, “Jake, your dinner is ready. I made your favorite meal, chicken and rice.”The tapping of tiny feet dragged across the checkered tile floor. Holding a toy ship in each hand, Jake wheezed as he set his two plastic ships on the table, another reminder of his failing condition. He slid into a chair at the dinner table.

Taking both plates of food, she set them on the table. Across from Jake, Mom asked, “How do you feel today? Any better?”

With bits of sticky rice stuck to the roof of his mouth, he replied, “I’m okay, Mom.”

Ashley’s heart ached, sliced into minuscule pieces, knowing Jake’s voice was weakening. She lost her appetite and pushed her plate aside. Wanting to regain her composure, she said, “Jake,” as he looked at his sister with two cheeks puffed out with chicken and rice, “When you’re finished with your meal, I’ll read you your favorite story.”

Jake’s eyes lit up as he swallowed his food without chewing. Although Ashley’s back turned away from him, she heard Jake’s chair scrape across the tile floor, and his feet, used to racing to his room, slowed.

Ashley made small steps to his room, hoping Jake wouldn’t notice his weakened body slowing him down. With his door cracked open, Ashley entered, and Jake asked, “What story are you going to read tonight?”

She smiled. “You know which story. I’ve read it a hundred times.” Jake knew. He struggled over toys scattered on the floor to his bookshelf. As he pulled his favorite from the shelf, the book fell from his frail hands several times. “Stupid book!” he said, as he cradled the book with both hands in hopes of not dropping it again.

Ashley saw him frustrated for the first time. “It’s alright, Jake,” as she took the large and heavy book from his hands. Do you realize how many times I’ve read the story of Captain Tory to you?”

Jake nodded and sat next to his sister, struggling to flail his legs back and forth in hopes of anticipating a new journey. Ashley held up the photos with her polished nails after each page read. Her voice transitioned to a mellow tone, indicating the end of the story. Captain Tory’s presence indicated his humanitarian love for helping children with incurable diseases. He designed his ship with kids in mind. All the decks are decorated with the hopes of removing the fears and loneliness associated with deadly diseases. Ashley concluded, “In the end, Captain Tory sailed onto a new expedition with the help of his friends. The End.”

Ashley finished the story and noticed Jake sprawled on the bed, asleep with his mouth wide open. She placed the book on the shelf and went to her bedroom. Plopping down on her bed as her back met the velvet sheets, she stared at the ceiling. Plastic stars glowed in the dark, pasted above, reminding both her and Jake of the number of times they finished Captain Tory. As Ashley counted them, her eyes tired, and she fell asleep.

Ashley awoke at 4 a.m. and wrapped her arms around herself because of a chilling mist. She lifted herself upwards, swinging her legs to the side of her bed, and slid on nearby slippers. Walking to her bedroom door, she wrapped her fingers around the brass knob and opened it. Peering down the hall, the cold mist lingered at Jake’s closed door. It swung open by itself. Ashley froze at Jake’s doorway and felt her heart sink like an anchor to the bottom of the ocean. Jake wasn’t there. An open window with his sheets overlapping one another, showing vibrant colors combining. With early morning transitioning to a sky gleaming an ominous emerald shade. The town slept.

Ashley’s mouth begged to scream Jake’s name, but the word couldn’t escape. Her heart thumped through her chest, creating a greater pain with each beat. She got dressed and sprinted to the place Jake often went to watch for ships, the lighthouse. With her head twisting and jerking in every possible direction, her knees buckled and anchored themselves to the ground. Ashley feared the worst.

As Jake’s only sister, this moment made her feel like a pathetic excuse for one. She heard laughing and a raspy voice not too far away. She didn’t like the thought that entered her mind while wiping the tears from her plum cheeks. Maybe I am a terrible sister.

Walking toward the shore, the laughter grew louder. Her tears dried themselves seeing Jake holding his favorite book, yet mystified seeing Jake talking to a peculiar man. She took a few steps closer, trying to examine his features.

A short, silver, bristly, bearded man who fit the mold of his face stood motionless. His hair was short, donning a lengthy ponytail with a few mixed strands of gray, and twice the height of Jake. Somewhat hesitant, Ashley approached her brother and knew in spite of the strange man, said, “Jake, it’s time to go home.”

“I am home, Ashley, here with Captain Tory.” She examined the man and noticed the character on the cover of the book Jake was holding, the exact character from Jake’s bedtime story, Captain Tory.

Ashley held back the tears about the truth she concealed from Jake each time she read that story. The ending resulted in Captain Tory leading gravely ill children onto his ship, allowing them to live out their childhood dream, but never mentioning that them being ill, as in the book.

She stared into his big iridescent eyes, noticing her reflection, and took hold of his hand, “Jake, please come home.”

“I already told you, Ashley, I am home.” He smiled, let go of her hand, and reached for Captain Tory’s.

Ashley realized how the story ended, and so did Jake. She fixed her eyes on Captain Tory, nodding her head in agreement to let her brother go with him.

Captain Tory swung his lantern three times, and the schooner appeared in the chilling mist. Hand in hand, they boarded the ship. Ashley forced a smile, though heartbroken. She’d never see her brother again. The memories Ashley and Jake shared together would forever be solidified in the book, “Captain Tory.”