The Pirates and the Peacock

by Pamela Love • Art by Sebastian Serra

“TODAY’S THE CAPTAIN’S birthday,

Peter,” whispered Polly Rogers. Rogers was the

first mate of the pirate ship Finicky Fin. She

handed some coins to Peter, who was too new to

have a pirate nickname yet. “While we’re in port,

buy him a parrot in the marketplace and sneak

it aboard. Then hide. The crew wants to surprise

Captain Chester tonight.”

“What’s a parrot?” asked Peter.

“A bird, of course. Sometimes pirate captains

keep one as a pet. Buy the biggest, brightest one

you can find. Captain Chester deserves the best!”

Strange things filled the local marketplace. Peter

walked past boomerangs, bananas, and bamboo,

eyes wide. At last he found a woman selling a bird—

Arrrr! Shiver me timbers, Spider here. I love

swashbuckling pirate stories!

2

and what a bird! Peter was sure it had to be the finest parrot

ever. Tucking it under his arm, he hurried back to the ship.

Hours later, the Finicky Fin set sail. After supper, the

crew gathered around their captain.

“Yo ho ho and a happy birthday!” everyone yelled.

“Bring out the captain’s gift!” shouted Polly Rogers.

Peter climbed up from below deck. “Here’s your

parrot, sir!”

The ship rang with laughter. Manta Ray Reyes shouted,

“A parrot? That’s a peacock!”

“How’s the captain going to carry that on his shoulder?”

Coral Cora asked.

His shoulder? Peter’s

heart sank. “You told me

to get the biggest bird I

could find.”

Captain Chester

chuckled. “It’s a fine-

looking feathered thing.

Why shouldn’t our ship be

the first to have one?”

3

Peter felt a bit better. “It’s your job to care for it,

Peacock Pete.”

Was Peacock Pete a good nickname? Peter hoped so.

Too early the next morning a very loud “Squawk! Squawk!”

woke the crew. They sprang from their hammocks.

“False alarm. The bird just wants its breakfast,”

grumbled Coral Cora.

Blushing, Pete rushed to feed it.

Afterward, the peacock began strutting across the

deck, magnificent tail outspread. Maybe it’s rewarding me

for feeding it, Pete thought. “Isn’t it grand?” Pete shouted.

“Aye,” said Anchors O’Shay in surprise.

“Ah,” said Buccaneer Nadir in wonder.

“Arr!” shouted Polly Rogers in a panic. “Danger!”

Dashing to the wheel, she spun it hard. Pirates tumbled to

the deck. Just in time, the ship steered clear of a sand bar.

Captain Chester frowned. “Watch out for dangers

ahead, not the bird on board. Now drop anchor! First Mate

Rogers, lead a team ashore. Take that peacock with you, so

I can have some peace.”

Strutting means walking proudly. A sand bar is a long narrow strip of sand near the surface of the water.

4

Rogers saluted, then shouted orders to bring barrels

from the belly of the ship. Delighted to learn he could come

along, Peter asked O’Shay, “Are these barrels for treasure?”

“Aye, Peacock Pete. The most valuable treasure: fresh

water. Without it, no crew can last more than a day.

There’s a spring on this island.”

5

barrels, the first mate asked, “Where’s the bird?”

Single file, the

crew marched

inland. The peacock

followed Peter,

pecking up insects.

Even though two

people carried each

full barrel, the work

was exhausting. Peter

was panting when

the crew returned to

the beach at noon.

After loading the

Peter’s heart sank. His gaze raced over the sand.

There! The peacock’s long feathers had left a trail. It led

into the forest, but soon disappeared.

To his amazement, Polly Rogers ordered everyone

to search. Filled with guilt, nobody looked harder than

Peter. But it was Buccaneer Nadir who shouted, “Arr!

Here it is!”

6

The sun was below the horizon by the time the pirates

finally reached the Finicky Fin. Feeling as low as the ocean

floor, Peter said, “It’s my fault for buying the wrong bird.”

“Aye,” agreed the captain.

Peter felt even gloomier.

Peter woke extra early the next day, hurrying to feed

the bird before it woke anyone. But he couldn’t find it.

Peter searched from bow to stern with no luck.

Suddenly, there was a huge splash!

A gigantic sea monster rose from the waves. It began

knocking the Finicky Fin around like a toy. Coiling its

tentacles around the wooden ship, the monster scraped

barnacles off its itchy body. The Finicky Fin creaked loudly

under the strain.

Captain Chester shouted orders, but the monster

ignored everything the crew did. Suddenly, there was a

furious squawk from the sails! The peacock dove straight

at the monster’s face, squawking in rage. Yelping like a

frightened puppy, the sea monster unwrapped itself. It

plunged deep into the sea.

Bow to stern means from the front to the back of the ship.

7

“The bird saved the ship. Three cheers for the peacock!

Hip hip hooray!” The captain clapped Peter on the

shoulder. “But keep an eye on that bird, Peacock Pete. I

didn’t know it could fly!”

Aye Aye, Captain. Three cheers for the peacock!

Hip, hip, Hooray!

8

Peahens Female peacocks, called peahens, are mostly brown or gray, and they

don’t have long tail feathers. But don’t feel sorry for the peahens! Without

heavy feathers to slow them down, they’re faster flyers. And they’re

better at hiding and protecting their babies (called peachicks) because

their feathers blend in with the forest floor.

9

Cricket Media® Books for Kids at Every Stage!

Enchanting Stories and Fun from SPIDER® Magazine

Fiction Action & Adventure 560L • 826 words

Text © 2018 by Pamela Love, Art © 2018 by Sebastian Serra

Photo courtesy SanderMeertinsPhotography/Shutterstock.com

Copyright © 2018 by Cricket Media, Inc. All rights reserved, including right of reproduction in whole or in part, in any form.

All Cricket Media material is copyrighted by Cricket Media, Inc., and/or various authors and illustrators. Any commercial use or distribution of material without permission is strictly prohibited.

Please visit cricketmedia.com/licensing for licensing and cricketmedia.com for subscriptions.

ISBN 978-1-64262-475-5