by Johnson Pete
‘You took those things so I'd have to stand up to you.’
‘Well, I hoped you would, yes. But you did even better than I'd hoped. I especially liked the way you said to me, “I'm telling you to give them back now.” You showed real courage today, Jamie.’ Then he started to float up into the air. ‘Ah, looks like I'm off at last. Well, all the best, shipmate.’
Shipmate. He'd never called me that before. I glowed with pride. ‘Thanks for everything, Brave Bill. I wish you could stay longer. I'll miss you.’
Brave Bill laughed and said something else, just as he whirled away through the ceiling. I only caught the last word, which I think was ‘bottle’. And then he was
gone. My bedroom seemed very quiet and empty without him.
I sank down on my bed. Then I saw another figure drifting down through the ceiling.
It was Harry.
He waved at me. And when he reached the ground he bounded over to me and gave me a big hug.
‘Stop trying to get round me. I'm very cross with you,’ I said.
He gave me his hurt look. ‘But I'm just pleased to see you, and glad to be home.’
‘Didn't you enjoy being a pirate then?’
He shook his head.
‘Why ever not?’
‘Because…’ his voice fell away to a whisper. ‘Because I was seasick nearly the whole time and spent most of the day being sick over the side of the ship.’
I started to smile.
‘And they gave me this gruel which they said would make me feel better. But, ugh, it was really disgusting – and it just made me feel even worse.’
I was laughing out loud now.
‘It's not funny,’ Harry cried.
‘Yes it is. It's very, very funny.’
Harry sat down on my bed and yawned. ‘And I hardly saw Brave Bill. He was away somewhere.’
‘Yes, he was here with me.’
Harry's eyes opened wide. ‘What?’ But then he yawned again. ‘Oh, I'm too tired to talk now. I couldn't sleep on my hammock, so I'm going to have a little nap on your bed. Do you mind?’
‘No, I don't mind.’
‘Thanks, Jamie. I really missed you. I should have wished for you to come with me.’
He curled up on my bed, and a few seconds later he was fast asleep.
I sat on the chair in the corner of my room, thinking about my incredible day. Then I picked up the Brave Bill book. Harry had already vanished from the last page and Brave Bill was back there again, but now looking a little plumper than he had before. It must have been all the food he'd eaten today.
Harry stirred and stretched. ‘Hello, Jamie. I've just had the weirdest dream. I dreamt your cape was magic and I
wished myself on to a ship with Brave Bill, only I kept getting seasick.’
I gaped at him.
Then Aunt Nora came in. ‘Oh, there you are, Harry. Did you have a good day at school?’
‘I think so,’ Harry replied. ‘I can't remember much about it now.’
She laughed. ‘Well, would you pop down to the shops for me, dear? I've run out of bread. I was sure I had two fresh loaves but I can't find them anywhere.’
I listened to Harry and Aunt Nora with growing astonishment. Now the wish was over, they'd both forgotten everything that had happened.
The doorbell rang.
It was Reema. She burst in and hissed at me, ‘Jamie, you don't suppose Brave Bill took all those things deliberately.
Then you'd have to stand up to him and you'd realize…’
‘That's exactly why he did take them,’ I interrupted her. ‘He explained it all to me.’
‘He's very clever, isn't he? I always liked him and I'm glad he ate three of my sandwiches. Is he still here?’
‘No, he left ages ago. And he's back in his story again.’
Her face fell. ‘What a shame. I wanted to say a proper goodbye to him. Still, at least I've got his autograph.’
‘Do you know the really weird thing?’ I said. ‘Neither Aunt Nora nor Harry remembers anything that's happened today.’
‘I bet our class won't either,’ Reema murmured. ‘But that's the way the cape's magic works. No one remembers what's happened except you.’ She paused for a moment. ‘And me, for some reason.’
‘I expect that's because you're my very special friend,’ I said.
She nodded and smiled.
‘So Elliot and Russell will be back calling me “the Shrimp” again tomorrow.’
‘No they won't,’ Reema replied, ‘because you'll stand up for yourself now.’
I grinned. ‘That's right, I will.’
Aunt Nora popped her head round the door. ‘Hello, Reema dear.’ Then she turned to me. ‘I was just putting the milk bottles out when I found something in one of them. A funny-looking note, addressed to you.’
I grabbed it from Aunt Nora.
‘One of your little games, I expect,’ smiled Aunt Nora, before disappearing back into the kitchen.
I stared at Reema excitedly. ‘Just before he zoomed off, Brave Bill was trying to tell me something. I only caught the last word – “bottle”.’
‘He was saying he'd left you a message in the milk bottle,’ Reema said, getting excited too. ‘Well, open it, for goodness' sake.’
The paper was brown and old-looking and it was burnt round the edges. It looked like a scroll. I unfurled it and read the message. Then I read the message again.
Reema was jumping about beside me.
‘What does it say?’ she demanded.
‘It's a bit peculiar, really.’
She snatched it from me and read aloud: ‘Look under your bed. Brave Bill.’
‘What on earth do you suppose that means?’ I cried.
‘At a guess, I'd say go and look under your bed,’ Reema snapped. ‘Come on, Jamie, what are you waiting for?’
‘Nothing. It's just not what I was expecting.’
‘Well, I'm going to look under your bed anyhow,’ Reema cried.
She bolted up the stairs. I raced after her and overtook her outside my bedroom. Then I crouched down, gazed under my bed, and exclaimed, ‘I don't believe it!’
‘Don't believe what?’ Reema cried, trying to see over my shoulder.
‘Look at this.’ And from under the bed I brought out Brave Bill's hat.
Her eyes gleamed. ‘Oh, wow.’
‘I know. It's incredible. He's left his totally brilliant pirate hat behind for me.’
‘He must have liked you a lot.’
‘It's incredible,’ I said again. I didn't know what else to say, I was just so shocked and thrilled.
‘Well, try it on then,’ Reema urged.
Very carefully I put Brave Bill's hat on my head. ‘What do you think? Do I look like Brave Bill now?’
Reema shook her head. ‘No, you look exactly like Brave Jamie.’