The making of a sailor 3/10

"Morning Norman, I always forget that first bend into the creek," said Jonah with a happy smile. He looked curiously at Fern. "Fairies in the yard now?" he asked.

"Meet Fern Marigold Knott, apprentice, late of the Wish Warehouse," said Norman.

"John Jones, Captain of the Black Cat," said Jonah. "Pleased to meet you."

Jonah and Norman walked off together towards the office.

"I don't think I've ever heard of a fairy working in a boatyard before."

"It's a long story," said Norman, "but she's ever so keen and she works hard."

Fern watched them go into the office and then turned to study the Black Cat. The whole ship was immaculate, the paint was clean and the brass work shiny. With a newly professional eye she could see that the rigging was beautifully set up and the sails had appeared to be in first class shape as the schooner had come up the creek.

She strolled down to the quay and looked at the decks with interest. The deck planking was scrubbed white and the seams neatly caulked and pitched. It seemed strange that this well kept, beautiful ship should have such a reputation for bad luck.

The boatyard whaler pulled alongside the schooner and the goblin sailor who'd been thrown off the topsail yard climbed aboard with a sheepish grin.

"One hand for yourself and one for the ship," said one of the crew with a laugh as he helped him over the rail. They went below without any of the fuss or drama that Fern had seen at the Wish Warehouse when things went wrong.

It must be wonderful to sail the seas in such a vessel, she thought wistfully and then she left the quay and climbed up the ladder to the deck of the boat she was working on, to start yet another seam of caulking.

She had nearly finished when she became aware of someone standing behind her. Looking round she saw Norman and Jonah looking at her work.

"Neat enough," Jonah said to Norman, "I agree with you, I’ll give her a trial.”

They waited until Fern had finished her line of caulking, then as she stood up and stretched her aching back, Jonah spoke to her.

"Now then, how would you like to come on a voyage with me to round out your nautical education? Norman tells me you've done some dinghy sailing, your practical work at the yard is good and I need another hand on the Black Cat."

Fern couldn't believe her luck; she looked at Norman who nodded his approval. "Yes please," she said.

"Right then, you can bunk down in the sail locker seeing as you'll need separate accommodation from those nasty rough goblins in the fo'c'sle. We'll finish loading our stores and sail on tomorrow's tide."

"Only one voyage mind," said Norman, "she's still only an apprentice and we need her back here at the yard to finish her time."

Fern went off happily to her attic room over the boat yard office and started to pack her belongings.

"You'll be gone for a week or so depending on wind and weather," said Norman. "You should learn a lot from Jonah he's a very good sailor in spite of the way he manages to make mistakes when other people are watching."