An Everlasting Sunset

Author's Note: My last day of middle school was in the third week of May. I was bored and wrote a story to pass the time, a close friend of mine since elementary school moved and will not go to the same high school. This story was inspired by it and is sentimental for me. I typed a 20 or so page story with her this year, and last year typed a 31 page one trying to reflect a couple school years of her life. She is emotional, obsessed with Michael Jackson's music, loves to dance, draw, and watch anime.

 I was on vacation and it was summer. My older sister Wendi was with me, her dark wavy hair blowing in the wind. I looked out at the waves, the sky a light, but bright blue, and there was not a cloud in the sky. We were out in the water earlier, it gleamed in the sun as the waves rose and fell, rose and fell, then rose again.

      “Wendi?” I asked, looking at her.

      “Yes Linda?” I saw a ship on the horizon.

      “You might just find the adventure you were looking for.” The ship pulled up to shore, a flag from its pole made it distinguished from a fishers. I felt a lump in my throat, but watched her green eyes glaze with eager.

      A pirate came off looking like an alien from a UFO. His clothes hung loosely, almost clean, but the chest was open, and the clothes were slashed. He looked at us, studying our faces.

      “Well?” He said, in a sharp, but surprisingly soft voice.

      “Well what?” Wendi challenged. He only had one eye, but the other was not covered, just scarred.

      “Pop,” a boy about Wendi's age, came off the boat wearing similar attire to the first. His hair was shorter than the older man’s, and unlike the older man, his hair was brown. “Why don't I ask? Give ‘em a break.”

      “A-ask what?” I stuttered.

      The older pirate said, “You have something we need. Your necklace.”

      “My necklace?” Wendi asked.

      “Yes, I'm Jack by the way, let me help,” the younger guy replied. He took her necklace and opened it. “Based on our research, underneath this picture in your locket there are coordinates.” Wendi urged me on to the boat. I followed tentatively and saw the coordinates, 315.08. I grabbed the picture of me and her with a sunset that was in the locket on the way on the boat, Jack had sat it on a table.

      I did not have much of a choice but to go to the coordinates with them. “What is at the destination?" I asked.

      The Older guy, One-eyed Fred grinned, showing a gap in his teeth where a tooth was missing. “Treasure.” I smelled the salty air, sitting with Jack looking out, my blonde wavy hair blowing in the wind.

      “What's it like, life on the boat?” I asked.

      “Calm, exciting sometimes, but fairly lonely,” he said while glancing at my sister. “She's beautiful.”

      “In what way?” I asked, with a calm but provoking curiosity.

      “Just . . . pretty,” he said. I gave him a goofy smile, and then watched him blush. “Not like that, I mean yes. But also in a way of wildness, the way she can be free to venture wherever she likes, and not be scared to do it.”

      We got close to the coordinates four days after being picked off the beach. I realized I had started to become friends with Jack, even getting on One-eyed Fred's good side. We got off, Wendi pulling me into the lead. Once we got to the coordinate she looked at Jack. Wendi had been talking to him when I had not, I knew she had, I had heard the laughter.

      She pecked his cheek and I watched Jack go red while Fred dug. The treasure chest, small and made of dark painted wood, held a red ruby, and some golden coins. They gleamed in Fred's eye, but he turned his head to stare at me.

      “Yes?” I asked, past fear dissolving.

      “Take the ruby, and one gold.” His voice was no longer harsh and commanding, but instead polite. I know he would not have done that for just anyone, and in his eye it was the most gracious gift.

      “Thank you,” I said, taking them. On the way back, another four days, we all enjoyed ourselves. I swam some seeing many other small green islands like the one from the coordinates. We went back to the beach where we were found. When we got back I was just as hesitant as I was to leave, if not even more than I had been to come.

      It was a change, and I never much liked changes, especially when I did not know if I would ever see them again. I had tears in my eyes and ran up to hug Jack. “I do not want to leave you!” I exclaimed.

      “It's okay," he said, "you'll always have the memories.”

      “Yes, Wendi said. “And you will too. I'm glad to have helped you Jack, but. . .” I saw her eyes waver as they got watery. “But you have to make your own path, it's hard but I believe you are strong enough to.”

      She hugged him tight, his arms around her waist, and then she turned away. I glanced back but she did not, I saw One-eyed Fred wave as I turned away. It was hard, but as Jack said I will always have the memories, and it was still vacation so I would try to enjoy it. After all, we said farewell and the sunset, but we will still be friends and I will never forget them.