A t Seabreezy Library, things were just right. Book lovers were cozy. The sky was blue-bright whenâShiver me timbers!âthrough Seabreezyâs door stormed Big Pirate Pete and his parrot, Igor!
âWhar be the treasure?! X marks this spot! Weâll dig up the loot anâ steal all that yeâve got!â
SQUAW-AW-AWK! Igor squawked as Pete muttered an â Arrgh !â Then Big Pete let loose with a scaryâ âSO THAR!â
Chills ran down spines as those readers all shook. They hid behind bookshelves, but ventured a look. And what was that odor? Disgusting! Phhhew! But no one at Seabreezy knew what to do.
Except⦠Library Lou who dashed over to see what all the unruly commotion could be. âMay I help you?â Lou asked with a pinch of a frown. âThis is a library. Shhh ! Quiet down!â
âARRGH!â
Big Pete thundered.
âDonât waste me day! Walk the plank, saucy lass, or show me the way!â
At Seabreezy then, you could hear a pin drop. All that tough, ruffian talk and squawk stopped for Library Lou looked Pete right in the eye as Pete stood his ground with a snarl. Oh, my!
Minute by minute, their tempers both flared as they stood head to head and doggedly dared!
âUnless you be quietâ¦and listen up too⦠NO PIRATES ALLOWED! â said Library Lou.
SQUAWK ! Igor squawked with a blow-me-down glare. Then Library Lou boldly addedââ So there !â ARRGH!
âNowâwhere is the treasure map?â Lou asked. ââ¦ahhh, yes.â
âThe treasure is here,â she said. âJust as I guessed.â
âIâll help you find it. But first I must ask of you and your matey a wee smallish taskâGo home. Take a bath. Change your underwear too. Then come back tomorrow,â said Library Lou.
ARRGH!
A landlubber tellinâ Big Pete what to do ?! Butâshe said thar be treasure. Sink me! âTis true!
So⦠that night Pete scrubbed thirteen layers of dirt and decided clean underwear ( sniff! ) couldnât hurt. Squawking Igor got a good scrubbinâ too! Swwwish through the sea sailed their funky P.U.
Then later they dreamed⦠of a treasure or two.
SQUAWK-AWAWK!
The next day they burst through that library door with a fresh, soapy scent, butâas LOUD as before!
âMateys! Your manners!â said Library Lou âNow, come. Follow me. We have much work to do.â
Aye !
Big Pete grabbed his picks and his ax and his shovel. But Library Lou said, âDonât go to the trouble.â âBut, Lassie! The loot!â Lou said, âNot yetâ¦
Firstâsay Ahoy to these letters! This fine alphabet!â
âLetters?â Pete scowled. âThar be more than X ?â Lou spread them all out. Big Pete looked perplexed. âBlimey!â cried Big Pete. âA code! Of old! A secret oneâAye!âto find the sweet gold!â
Library Lou grinned a witty-wise grin. âBrilliant!â she cried. âNow time to begin!â âHere they are. All of them. Pleased to meet you. Isnât this fun?!â said Library Lou.
âFun?â Big Pete sneered. âIt be torture no less! Meâd rather be kissinâ a fat treasure chest!â
So many letters! Big Pete got confused!
W âs? H âs? S âs? And Q âs?
Some she called vowelsâ A âs, E âs, I âs, O âs, and U âs?
Soon Lou took some letters and mixed them about. âLook!â exclaimed Lou. â Words to sound out! Now here is a stack you may take home with you. Then come back tomorrow,â said Library Lou.
Up on the poop deck, Pete practiced that night. He practiced each word till he got each word right. âIgor,â he bragged, âweâll hold riches untold! âCause us? We be hard-workinâ gluttons fer gold!â
Yes, day after day after day, he went back. And night after night, Lou piled high a new
Marina Dyachenko, Sergey Dyachenko