A Present Wrapped in Rope

Friday. A grandmother came to the shanty today with a voucher her grandchildren had given her for her birthday. She brought the grandchildren too. Very sensible. Somebody had to carry the treasure.

Last Christmas I asked the captain for one of these vouchers, so I could see the island from the prisoners’ side. He asked me what for. I never got one. So this year I bought my own, and I am saving it. One day I shall walk in as a prisoner, in a false beard, and find out whether I hid things as well as I think.

Giving somebody an hour on the island is a fine present. You cannot wrap a sunset, but you can wrap a card that says, come and steal a pirate’s treasure with me. Better than socks. I have had a lot of socks.

The grandmother escaped with time to spare and told the gamesmaster she wanted to come back for the ship next. Off she goes, to the captain. He will not know what hit him.

Hid my voucher under the rum barrel. Third from the left. The usual place.