Creative Writing: Empire Island

659 Words2 Pages

My father and I woke up in this giant ship, we were surrounded by foul-smelling men of all ages, there were no women. Our money was all taken by the seamen and it looked like we were not the only ones kidnapped, several other men and boys were around us. I’m the only 14-year-old on the ship, the other boys were as old as 16. My father and I assumed we were drugged at the tavern we stayed at. The seamen didn’t take my mother and sister, only us. I started getting really dizzy from the ship rocking back and forth, the sound of the waves made me anxious of what was out at sea. We started exploring the ship and asked the seamen about where were headed, no one seemed to know. As we got to the deck of the ship, we saw that is was nighttime but a …show more content…

There has been a big leak on the upper deck, sea water was pouring all over on to the deck and people were trying to get the water out with buckets. My father told me to stay in berth deck while he tried to help with the leak. The captain screamed and whipped the people who were still in bed, not helping out with the hole. He allowed me to stay since I wouldn’t be any help. Everyone relaxed after the leak was under control, someone boarded up the deck wall. It was now early in the morning and some other boys and I were forced to mop the deck, which was soaking wet with sea water. I could barely move, I was famished and thirsty, so was everyone else. But the fear of the punishments kept us going. After we finished our work, the captain and a few seamen handed out small portions of hardtack, rice, and a few pieces of salted beef. Everyone on the ship devoured all the food and gulped down liquor and ale. I was still a bit hungry but I knew the captain wouldn’t let me eat more. We were put to work right away after we ate, all the men were taught how to work on the ships and I was taught how to keep the ship clean and do small chores like chase rats. My father and a few other men were in charge of looking out for dangers from the crow’s nest. We worked all day and by night, we were all so exhausted, the work seemed like it never

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