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Edward Teach wrapped his arms around his legs tighter to conceal himself further in the alleyway. The commotion after he had tried to swipe a loaf of bread from the baker’s staff had died down after the baker’s furious son had caught Edward after a chase, given him a punch to the face and a few kicks to the ribs and then had retrieved the loaf. But Edward was now metaphorically licking his wounds, too ashamed to slink out and face the locals who would surely throw him, “little rat deserved it”-looks.
He hadn’t even wanted the bread that much, just the last time he had gotten away with stealing a loaf he had managed to bring it home to his mother and she had served it with dinner. His father had come home inebriated like normal but was so pleased at the addition to dinner he had passed out by the fire without raising a hand against either of them. It had been a good night.
But now that hope was dashed, and instead Edward would just bring home a busted lip and he would receive worried glances from his mother. His father might see fit to worsen up his wounds. So Edward stayed in the alley, not wanting to face what the rest of the day had in store.
But then his peace was interrupted by someone entering his hiding place, a figure that looked to be a boy his age. Edward tried to push himself further into the shadows, but doing so just drew the boy’s eyes to Edward. The intruder let out a, “Hello? Is someone there?”
“Uh yeah, get lost, find your own alley, this one is taken,” said Edward trying his best to sound intimidating.
“Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude,” said the boy while for some reason walking closer to Edward. When he came within a few feet of Edward he let out a gasp and ran up to him, “You’re injured! Here hold this against your lip!” He then reached into his pocket and held out a piece of fabric to the wounded boy.
Edward didn’t think to reach out and take the offered cloth, instead staring up at the other boy in confusion. Now that he had come closer Edward could take him in completely, he had blonde hair the color of sunshine with light eyes and was dressed in the finest clothes Edward had ever seen on a boy his age. Normally he only saw aristocrats dressed in such a way riding past in carriages, sneering at him and his mother.
The high class boy smiled warmly at him and said, “Go ahead, take it. That looks like it hurts.” Edward snapped out of his trance and took the offering. It was a red silk handkerchief and it was quite possibly the softest thing Edward had ever touched. He almost didn’t want to ruin it with his blood, but the boy wasn’t giving it to him just as a present so he put it against his lip.
“Thank you,” mumbled Edward.
“You’re most welcome, good sir,” said the other boy. He quickly looked around the alleyway before turning back to Edward, “Do you mind if I keep you company here for just a moment?”
Edward’s mouth turned down in confusion but he shrugged, “Sure, I don’t own the alley.”
“Oh splendid!” The blonde looked like he was considering sitting on the barrel opposite Edward but decided not to dirty up his fine clothes. He turned back to Edward and asked, “So why are you in an alley?”
“Why are you? I belong here more than you do,” snapped Edward back defensively, regretting it immediately.
The other boy wasn’t offended though, “Oh I’m traveling with my father, meeting some of his business associates. We just had lunch with some of them at this dining establishment here” the boy nodded his head to the adjacent wall, “They’ve been talking for about an hour about politics and it’s all rather dull. I excused myself, they didn’t care that I left, and I was hoping to find some place where I could read my book.” The boy pulled a slim volume out of the pocket of his coat, just revealing the top half.
“Huh. Do you like it?”
“Oh yes! It is full of Greek myths and they are all very interesting–”
“No, I mean traveling with your father. Do you like it?”
The boy’s smile fell and he contemplated the question, “Well, I suppose it’s alright. My father is, well I don’t think my father likes me very much.” His eyes fell downcast but he looked back up at Edward with excitement, “But I like the ship!”
“The ship?”
“Oh yes, the ship we are traveling on, it is marvelous! And the crew is like a family and they all have so many glorious tales to tell! I love talking to them, they are from all over and started out as so many things. So many of them went to sea and started over, became something new.”
Edward had never really thought of the sailors he saw around the docks, figuring it was just another job that could be an option to poor boys like him. He had never thought of it as something so romantic. Becoming something else did sound appealing, he didn’t want to stay a wretch that took beatings just for trying to stay alive.
Suddenly a loud growl from his stomach made the fact that he hadn’t eaten today known and the blonde boy’s eyes widened. “Oh, are you hungry? Here give me one moment.”
Before Edward could object the boy was scurrying off. Edward really didn’t expect him to come back but it wasn’t even five minutes later before he was back with a large French loaf wrapped in brown paper from the expensive bakery a few doors down. Edward’s mouth watered when he smelled the bread and his heart soared knowing his mother could divide the bread for at least three dinners to sate his father’s ire.
“Here you are!” said the boy holding out the loaf. Edward pushed himself to his feet, trying to hand back the red cloth to the boy. “Oh no, you can keep that. I’ve got heaps. Anyway I think red is more your color.”
Edward reluctantly tucked the handkerchief into his pocket and took the bread, “I don’t have any money.”
The blonde waved him off, “Don’t worry about it, you listened to me chattering. Not many people like listening to me.” The boy looked down, pale face flushed with shame.
“That’s…bullshit,” said Edward.
The boy looked up, face spreading into a smile, “Yeah?”
Edward nodded.
The boy thrust out a hand, “Stede Bonnet, a pleasure to make your acquaintance my fine sir.”
Edward shifted the bread to his hand and accepted the handshake, “Uh I’m Ed.” No one had ever called him Ed before, his mother called him Edward and his father called him ‘boy’. He always imagined that if he had a friend he would let them call him Ed. Stede felt like he could be that friend.
Stede was smiling warmly at him but the moment was broken when the door to the building opened with a jingle and a voice called out, “Stede! Where have you gotten to boy!” It was a cold and cruel sounding voice, and while it had a higher class accent, Ed was familiar with that tone. Stede winced and pulled away.
“I must go. But it was nice to meet you, Ed. I hope we meet again,” said Stede in an urgent whisper.
“Yes, I hope so too. And when we do, I’m going to repay you for the handkerchief and the bread.”
Stede shook his head, “A gentleman would never accept repayment for his gifts! But I would happily accept your company.” With that he ran off to the street yelling, “Coming father!” He turned one last time to give a quick wave to Ed before disappearing around the corner.
Ed stared after him for a while before making his way out of the alley and towards home. That night would turn out much better than he thought, both his parents would be pleased with the delicious bread and his mother would be too distracted to scold him about his bruises.
Laying on his narrow bed in the corner that night he brought out the red handkerchief, turning it over and over in the moonlight, caressing its smoothness. “Stede Bonnet,” he whispered to himself, committing the golden boy to his memory.
That night he made a vow to himself – he too would let the sea remake him. He would become someone who could stand side by side with Stede Bonnet.