The Pirates Who Couldn't Find the Treasure (Until Fen Read the Map)
A crew of hopeless pirates needs help reading a map that only a child can understand. Join Fen as she outsmarts a scaredy-captain, giggles at goofy mistakes, and finds treasure that's better than gold.
Made on Nightstory, and shared. The child's name has been changed.
A Bumpy Landing
Fen was patting the last tower on her sandcastle when a ship came bobbing into the cove. It had three sails, one flag, and a crew of pirates who were already arguing. "Left at the big rock!" said the tall pirate. "We already went left!" said the short pirate. Then a seagull landed on the rail. The captain dove behind a barrel. "Is it gone? Is it gone?" he whispered. Fen giggled. The pirates all turned. "You!" said the captain. "Can you read this?" He held out a map covered in squiggles and pictures and one very big red X. Fen looked at it. She could read it perfectly. "Yes," she said. "Follow me." And off they went, in a wobbly line, down the beach.
Follow That Map!
Fen held the map up and walked. The pirates wobbled behind her in a wobbly line. First came a palm tree leaning low. The map showed a coconut with a sleepy face. "Here!" said Fen. The captain marched past it — and bonk, bonk, bonk, three coconuts plopped right onto his hat. "Ouch!" he said. "That tree is ticklish!" Next came a big grey rock. The map showed a rock with little zzzz's floating over it. "Shh," said Fen. "It's snoring." The short pirate tried to tiptoe past. His foot slipped. Down he went — bump! "I meant to do that," he said. Then came a puddle. The map showed a splash. The tall pirate went first. SPLOOSH. He came out dripping and grumpy. "This map is silly," he said. "It is," said Fen. "And it says dig right here!" Everyone stopped. Right here was a big red X.
X Marks the Spot
The pirates dug. They dug with their hands and their hats and one very small spoon. "Gold!" said the tall pirate. "Jewels!" said the short pirate. "A bigger hat!" said the captain. Clunk. Up came a chest. It was not very big. It was not very heavy. The captain opened it slowly. Inside were blankets. Soft, fuzzy, folded blankets. One pillow. And a little note. "For a cozy nap," Fen read. The pirates looked at the blankets. Then they looked at each other. Then the tall pirate yawned. Then the short pirate yawned. Then the captain yawned the biggest yawn of all, and his hat tipped right over his eyes. "A cozy nap," said the captain, "is my favorite treasure." "Mine too," said the crew, all together. Fen smiled. "I know a place," she said.
A Cozy Pirate Bedtime
Fen led the sleepy pirates up the sandy path to her cave-home. It was warm inside, and the light was soft and gold. The pirates curled up on the floor like a pile of puppies. The tall pirate got one blanket. The short pirate got one blanket. The captain got the pillow, and he hugged it tight. "Mine," he said, very quietly. Outside the window, the seagull landed on a rock and tucked its head under its wing. The captain peeked one eye open. Then he closed it again. Fen tucked her triceratops under her arm. "Goodnight, pirates," she said. "Goodnight, Fen," they mumbled. The sea went shush-shush. The pirates snored gently, one by one, like a sleepy little song. And Fen drifted off too, cozy as a bug in a rug.
The end.