“Do we have to stay with DD in Mississippi?” Liza-Jane asked petulantly as she nervously scratched at a remaining fragment of pink nail polish on her index finger. “Yes, you do” responded her father as he clicked his seatbelt and started the car. “We don’t have any other options, your mother and I have to go to Missouri, your other grandmother needs us while she is in the hospital!” Liza-Jane resolved herself to the inevitable as she settled into the backseat, muttering to herself “vegetables for dinner, no dessert unless you clean your plate, bedtime sharp at 9 pm, 1 hour of tv per day and oh yeah, a day trip every Saturday to the Biloxi casinos on the old people bus!”
Dad honked the horn as DD and Liza-Jane waved from the driveway. “Come on sweetie, let’s get you set up in your room. We are going to have so much fun while you are here” Liza-Jane lifted her suitcase and blew out a breath of exasperation as she followed DD into the house. “What’s that smell?” Asked Liza-Jane as she entered the two-story brick home, “it smells like boiled cabbage!” “It is boiled cabbage, said DD, we are having it for dinner, along with liver and onions! It is your father’s favorite!” “Oh boy” murmured Liza-Jane under her breath as she lugged her heavy suitcase up the stairs!
At the dinner table, DD announced brightly, “tomorrow the Sunshine Retirement Community bus will be picking us up at 7 am to take us to the casino at Biloxi, now won’t that be fun?” “Yes” lied Liza-Jane resolved to her fate for two weeks at DD’s.
On the bus, DD sat next to Wanda, the crazy cat lady, that’s what DD called her behind her back, but that didn’t stop them from gossiping like old fish wives about Miriam, a new arrival to the sunshine retirement community who could not attend the outing due to still recovering from her facelift. And so, it went on, Liza sat by herself and rummaged through her backpack for her book. She had to surrender her phone and tablet to DD on her arrival on account of too much screen time, a phrase DD informed her she learned from a Reader’s Digest article about young people being addicted to technology, so she read her book instead.
“We’re here!” DD shook Liza awake. Liza yawned and stretched and realized her book was wet with a puddle of drool. She surreptitiously wiped her chin and mouth and followed DD off the bus. Greg, the bus driver, who never missed a beat, teased her on the way out. “We’ll need to bring a bucket for the ride home to catch all that drool,” he laughed. Eliza stuck her tongue out at him as she hopped off the last stair of the bus onto the sizzling cracked concrete. She followed DD who was still cackling like an old hen with Wanda as they entered the casino.
“OK, let’s get you to the kids’ room” said DD. Liza hated the indignity of being dropped off at the kids’ section, after all she was 11 years old. Most of the children in the place were far younger than her! The outrage of it all! What kind of parents or grandparents would do such a thing? Preposterous! Then she spotted her, a girl about her age sitting at a low table on a chair meant for a 5-year-old tapping on her phone. Liza blew out a breath of relief as she approached her one and only comrade in this pit full of minions.
The girl looked up sensing a presence as Liza Jane walked up to her. “Oh hi,” said the girl. I’m Mira, what is your name? “Liza-Jane, but you can call me Liza.” “How on earth did you end up here?” asked Mira “It’s a long and sad story” said Liza, “but the short version is I’m staying with my grandma, and she comes here every week, whether she has company or not” sighed Liza Jane.
“What about you?” ventured Liza-Jane “My mom works one of tables in the casino and I come here and help out Miss Jessica,” inclining her head toward a plump kindly looking middle-aged woman with dull brown hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. “I keep the little ones entertained when it gets crazy busy in here and she pays me to help. Right now, it is super slow, so I am surfing videos.” “Nice,” said Liza-Jane! “My phone and tablet were confiscated the minute I arrived at my grandma’s house, and I am dying without them.” “I would loan you my phone, but the power is almost gone and I forgot my charger! But I have a better idea, follow me!” said Mira.
She stood up, tall and gangly, an easy two inches taller than Liza Jane, she was thin but athletic, her long tawny hair pulled back in a ponytail. She wore black leggings, an oversized pink hoodie, and white trainers. Liza-Jane suddenly felt right at home in her mom jeans, black hoodie, and red converse sneakers. An outfit her grandmother frowned at but allowed. Liza-Jane followed Mira, huffing to keep up with her long stride. I am going to show her around said Mira over her shoulder to Miss Jessica, “we will be back soon.” They left the room too swiftly for Miss Jessica to reply. A ploy Liza-Jane was suspicious that Mira had used more than once. Outside the children’s area, Mira turned the corner away from the slot machines and down a long dingy carpeted hallway. It appeared to lead to a staff area. She turned another corner that led into a huge room full of slot machines. Liza-Jane had a puzzled look on her face and Mira explained, these are where the old ones are kept; the slot machines they no longer use. It is like a slot machine graveyard but some of them still work. I have a pocket full of tokens, they are often dropped on the floor and every few days, I do my rounds and pick them up.” “You are allowed in the gambling area?” Liza-Jane asked, surprised. “No, but when they shut down for the day. I sneak in and do my sweep.” “If the machines still work in here, can we win?” asked Liza. “No, but it is still fun. This one is my favorite. It is super old, maybe 1960s or so.” The machine they stood before was large and worn with ornate metal work. It had a long handle with a red knob on the end. “Here, have a go.” She dropped a token in Liza-Jane’s hand, still warm from her pocket. Liza-Jane hesitantly dropped the token in the slot and pulled the lever, nothing happened. “Maybe it got stuck” said Mira, “let me try.” She stepped in front of Liza-Jane and firmly gripped the lever and pulled it down. “Wow, that’s amazing” said Liza-Jane but her words were swallowed up by the sound of a great wind swirling around the two girls. The air was thick with black smoky tendrils wrapping around them and Liza-Jane could not see two inches in front of her. Just as she grabbed Mira to run away from the vortex, they were sucked into darkness. The scene where they once stood was still and calm, leaving no trace of the two girls!
Liza heard the thunder of a cannon and felt the vibrations reverberate through her chest. She found herself crouched next to Mira. Something squeaked and scampered across her lap. She shrieked. “Shush,” said Mira, huddled close to her in the shadows. It was dark, save for a few lanterns hooked to the ceiling swaying back and forth. The place wreaked of smoke, sweat, and fear. Suddenly, she recognized where she and Mira were. They were in the belly of a ship. Another cannon blast followed the sound of splintering wood caused girls to shrink down even further at the sound of the loud boom. As their eyes adjusted to the gloom, Liza saw sunlight streaming through some wooden slats. She stood on her toes to peer through the gap, her eyes squinting in the bright sunlight, her gaze settled on a giant mast and at the top flapping ominously in the wind was a flag bearing a skull and cross bones. She turned to Mira, her face stricken, “we’re on a pirate ship.” “That can’t be” said Mira nudging Liza aside to gape through the sunlit strip.
The boom of the cannons stopped, and a strong and resonant voice could be heard above the deck. “Do you surrender your vessel, sir?” A door creaked, followed by the thunder of several pairs of feet on the wooden steps. Sunlight and smoke streamed through the open doorway. There were three men dressed in sailor’s gear from a time depicted in storybooks of long ago. Ragged frayed white pants, or what once were white, now grey with filth. Striped shirts with bandanas around their necks, filthy bare feet with long unkempt dirty matted hair to match. The one in the front wore an eyepatch as he held his lantern aloft. He squinted his good eye adjusting to the dimness of the lower deck of the ship. Mira coughed from the smoke and all two and half sets of eyes were upon the girls as they shrank deeper into the shadows. “Well, what ‘ave we ‘ere. Said eyepatch in the front, the ringleader of the three. “Stowaways! Do you know what we do to stowaways on this ship? How’d you get in ‘ere anyway?” Before the girls could move or speak, the two other sailors sprang on them with such speed they were stunned. They frog marched the girls up the steps onto the ship’s deck into the blinding sunshine.
“Oy Captain Silk Beard, look what we found below the deck.” As Liza’s eyes adjusted to the light, she beheld an immaculately dressed gentleman wearing a crimson brocade jacket with matching silk knee pants. He was sprawled in a chair, a horribly injured leg stretched out before him, his pant leg matted and oozing with blood. His long dark hair curled with matching silky curled beard. His forehead was slick with sweat, beads collecting across his brow. His face pinched and pale, despite his tanned skin.
Liza whispered to Mira, “do you still have your phone?” “Yes,” Mira whispered. “Does it still have a charge?” Mira gave her a tiny nod. “Slip it in my pocket and whisper the passcode. I have a plan.”
Captain Silk beard’s eyes held the stare of the man before him. He was clearly the captain of the other ship the pirates attacked. The man was standing, hands bound behind his back, his once immaculate uniform spattered with blood and saturated with sweat. He stood tall, chin held high with a look of grave resolve on his face. The seated pirate leader repeated, “do you surrender your vessel, sir?” I do not said man standing before him. “This ship is a merchant vessel belonging to his majesty, George III.” “Then I have no choice, but to seize your ship and all its contents by force and you and your men will perish.” He turned to eyepatch, barely acknowledging the two girls, and said, “prepare the captain and his crew to walk the plank.”
“Nooooo” screamed Liza-Jane more loudly than she anticipated. Her voice carrying over the wind. “You must set this captain and his crew free!” The pirate leader turned his gaze to her for the first time, the glaze in his eyes replaced with a piercing stare. “Who do you think you are, girl, to speak over the captain of this ship? The ship you stowed away on. You and your friend will be joining this captain and his crew on the plank.” Liza-Jane swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. “It’s just that…” “Spit it out girl!” He made to stand but collapsed in his chair. Pain etched on his face. Liza swiftly reached for Mira’s phone in her pocket. She punched in the passcode and snapped a picture of the pirate leader, and again of his various crew members including Eye Patch and his cronies. She held the phone aloft, swiping the newly taken photos of the pirates for all to see. “This device will capture your souls forever and only I can release them!” The crew gaped at the photos with horror in their eyes.
“Now! If you please, release this captain and his crew. Allow them to return to their ship, or your souls will be forever doomed!”
“I will not fall for your tactics, girl!” The Pirate captain retorted. “Seize them!”
Liza nimbly escaped a fat pirate as Mira darted in front of Liza’s pursuers, blocking them from laying a hand on Liza. With the phone still in her hand and praying the charge held, she selected a heavy metal music file and revved up the volume blasting sounds with ominous gonging of bells, zinging electric guitars, thrumming drums, and the shrieking voice of the vocalist. She shouted as she stepped closer to her assailants. “In this device are captured souls calling for you. Any harm comes to me’ my friend or any of these captive men and you will be joining them.”
Murmuring was heard amongst the pirates and sailors, who are superstitious by nature. Sorceress… witches…mutiny!
The pirate leader weakened his wound and acknowledging the threat the girls held over him, raised his hand, and spoke.
“Very well, lead these men back to their ship.” Liza whispered to the bound Captain,” raise your sails as quick as you can and be on your way!” “What about you and your friend? Come with us.” He whispered back. Liza considered the offer, then replied. “We will hold them off as long as we can. Your men see us as a threat, we will not be welcome, just go.” He nodded in agreement as he was prodded to his ship by the end of a rusty sword belonging to a skinny pirate with a mouthful of rotting teeth and a nasty leer.
When the other crew were safely on their ship, sails full blown and disappearing into the horizon, Liza said to Captain Silk Beard, “we need refreshment and rest.” He commanded to Eye patch “Escort these girls to Yasmina’s quarters.” Who is Yasmina?” Mira asked Eye patch as they followed him down a corridor in the interior of the ship. Captain’s daughter. She and her Mum disappeared in the middle of the day about a year ago. Not a trace of ‘em. You wouldn’t ave ad anything to do with that would ya?” Eye Patch asked Liza. “No, nothing” said Liza-Jane warily. “It’s a right mystery,” he went on, “Cap’n Silk took it ‘ard, hasn’t been the same since.”
“Right, ‘ere we are then, make yourself at ‘ome. I’ll bring you some ale and salt pork shortly.” “Ummm, could you just bring water, cheese and bread if you have it?” asked Mira politely. “I’ll see what I can rustle up from the cook,” he said gruffly as he turned to go, shutting the door behind him. The girls heard a key in the lock, then a click. Liza bolted to the door. We are locked in!
“Your phone charge is down to 20%”. Liza said handing the phone back to Mira. “If we do not get out of here soon, the gig is up”
Liza sat down on the large four poster bed, her face in her hands. “What! You are giving up? You were wonderful how you managed the crew! We cannot admit defeat now!” “What do you suggest we do?” asked Liza.
“I suggest we search this room and try to find a way to escape” said Mira firmly, eyes blazing. “Maybe we can find a few hair pins to pick the lock.” She began to open the drawers of a large bureau. Liza looked under the bed, then turned her gaze to the wooden paneled walls. “Look! There are hinges on either side of these two panels! This must be a set of doors!” The girls wedged their fingers around the panels and pulled. A groan of ancient wood and a creak sounded as the doors gave way to their effort. “It is just a closet” said Liza disheartened, as she viewed a rack of elaborate child sized silk dresses of emerald, posey pink, sky blue, buttercup yellow and lavender. “Wait, push the dresses aside” ordered Mira.” There is something behind them.” Liza obediently shoved the dresses aside to reveal a large ornate metal object remarkably like the slot machine in the casino boneyard. “Are you thinking what I am thinking?” asked Mira. “Yeah,” said Eliza grinning from ear to ear.
“Ok, let’s do this exactly like we did before.” Said Liza. Mira handed her a token which she dropped into the machine, Liza pulled the long handle, nothing happened. Mira stepped forward and said.” Let me try.” She pulled the handle, it went down. Liza Jane exclaimed, “it worked!” But her words were swallowed up by a raging wind as thick swirling smoke wrapped around the two girls. Liza grasped her friend as they were sucked into darkness. The scene where the two girls stood a breath before was still and calm, leaving no trace of them in the ship’s cabin.
The raging wind ceased, the black smoke dissipated, the vortex gone but it was as dark as night. Darker, in fact. Liza Jane ran her fingers across something poking into her back, the air heavy with the smell of must. She could hear breathing and movement, something crashed to the floor. “Is that you, Mira?” Lisa asked hesitantly. “Yeah, it is me. Where are we?” “Don’t know, but it is cramped in here. Do you still have your phone?” “Yeah, it’s in my pocket,” muttered Mira. “Can you turn on your flashlight?” “If I can reach it in my pocket. It is so tight in here!” Mira groaned, something clattered to the floor, another groan. “I’ve got it,” said Mira. The light from the phone flashed, Mira spun the light around the room, “we’re in a broom closet!” Exclaimed Liza. Mira flashed the light around the walls. “Ah, here’s a light switch” said Liza standing up and flicking the switch. The room buzzed as the closet light flickered into life causing the girls to blink. “I wonder where we are?” “Let’s find out” said Mira, pushing aside the mop handle poking into her back. Liza creaked the door open peering out onto a long corridor with the same dingy carpet belonging to the casino.” I know where we are,” said Mira. Follow me.
Moments later, they arrived in the kid’s section of the casino. “Where have you girls been?” asked Miss Jessica. “And look at the state of you all smudged with dirt and is that smoke? Get yourselves cleaned up. I need help in here Mira; this place is filling up with children.” The girls made a hasty trip to the restroom and cleaned up the best they could. As they walked into the kid’s section, they passed an attractive woman wearing an oriental style silk dress, with the Casino’s logo embroidered on the sleeve. She stood in the doorway smiling at Miss Jessica, then settled her gaze on a pretty young girl of around six years old with long dark silky curls playing dolls with her blond headed companion. Yasmina, your mom is here” said Miss Jessica. The dark headed child looked up from her playmate, dropped her doll, ran to her mother delivering a crushing embrace. “Time to go darling” said mother to daughter. “Thank you, Jessica,” she said as she turned to leave clasping her daughter’s hand.
Mira and Liza-Jane stared, mouths agape eye wide as saucers as the two disappeared down the hall. “What’s gotten in to you two?” asked Miss Jessica, “you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” “Not quite,” said Mira.
“Ah, here’s your grandmother, Liza-Jane!” said Miss Jessica. Liza turned to Mira, “wow, that was quite the adventure!” “To say the least,” said Mira. “You will be back next Saturday?” “Absolutely!” said Liza-Jane hugging her friend goodbye. Liza turned to leave with DD when Mira shouted over the noise of children playing. “Next time, I will have my phone fully charged.” Liza gave her friend a thumbs up and a wave as she left with DD.
Boarding the Sunshine Retirement bus, Greg the driver held up a bucket as Liza walked past chortling to himself. She ignored him as she found her seat next to DD. “I thought we could just talk on the way home,” said Liza.” I would like nothing more” said DD as she gave Liza a hug.
The End