The Pirate’s Eye
by Alice Baburek
The Morning Star had once been a flourishing local newspaper house within the inner city of Manhattan. But as global economics took a drastic turn for the worse, thousands of family owned businesses, across the country, had lost their financial incentives to the hustle and bustle of conglomerates.
"We’re running on fumes, Jack," commented Stanley Whitmore while flipping through the small stack of papers. His shirt sleeves had been intentionally rolled up to his elbows, as he sat flustered behind his weather beaten desk. Jack McFadden looked across the desk at his aging uncle with sympathy. It had been tremendously hard on him the last four years as he struggled to be the sole owner, publisher, editor and copy clerk of The Morning Star.
"Can I ask you something, Uncle Stan?" questioned Jack. Stanley immediately stopped and looked tiredly at his nephew.
"As long as it’s not the same question you ask of me each and every day," he replied without enthusiasm. Jack McFadden smiled. His uncle knew him all too well.
"Never mind…but I still don’t understand why you just don’t…" Jack tried desperately to finish his sentence but to no avail.
"Jack! How many times do we have to go over this conversation? I am not giving up The Morning Star and that’s all there is to it. Do I make myself perfectly clear?" He peered over his bifocals and glared at Jack.
"Fine; I promise not to mention it again, today! What do you have for me, uncle?" asked Jack. Stan remained quiet for a moment. A tiny smile crawled across his wrinkled face.
"There’s a huge Halloween party being thrown at the Wyatt Hotel. A bunch of local politicians and well known celebrities will be in attendance. People like to read gossip, Jack. I called in a few favors and I was able to get you in for the evening. Go rub some elbows and get me a good juicy story that my few readers will enjoy!" Stanley Whitmore reached into his side drawer.
"Here! Make sure you wear this for identification. And, oh, it’s a costume party so be creative, will you?" Stan slid the small card across the desk to his nephew.
"A costume party…hmmm…okay. I just hope the drinks are free!" he exclaimed. Jack McFadden actually looked forward to the gala event. Mingling with royalty and conversing amongst the stars could be uplifting for his sagging career. He knew it wouldn’t be long before The Morning Star would face the inevitable and collapse under total financial ruin.
The glamorous and illustrious Halloween party had been honored by the presence of not only influential political figures, but graced by many famous contributing celebrities, too. Jack McFadden eagerly concealed his "media" pass while he strolled through the ballroom of the elaborate hotel sipping the tart bubbly champagne from the expensive etched crystal glass. His eyes darted back and forth among the overwhelming streams of New York’s finest exquisitely designed costumes. He readily smiled then nodded at those who remotely glanced in his direction.
"Yo, ho ho and a bottle of rum! I’ll have whiskey on the rocks. And could you make it more whiskey than rocks?" he retorted with a dashing smile. His youthful athletic appearance did nothing for his ill contented wit. The barmaid, a masked leopard skinned woman remained stoic by his measly attempt at humor. Without giving it a second thought, she quickly poured a generous serving from the gold labeled bottle of Tennessee Whiskey, and then nonchalantly tossed in a couple of melting ice cubes.
"A few rocks and a lot of whiskey," she responded rhetorically. Jack McFadden’s eyes lit up with excitement. But before he could contribute another word to the obsolete conversation, she had already moved on to the Romanian vampire who was patiently waiting at the far end of the long wooden bar.
"Not your typical neighborhood loquacious barmaid," he muttered to himself. The warm, expensive whiskey burned as it coated his dry throat. For a brief moment, Jack thought he just might choke on the pureness of such fine liquor.
"Joy Vorseck," she whispered inside his ear. Startled by her sudden appearance, Jack McFadden swallowed the watery cube whole.
"Jack McFadden," he eagerly replied then outstretched his leather gloved hand. Her alluring beautiful blue eyes were more than mesmerizing. Jack McFadden instantly felt attracted to this captivating woman. Her fine lined wired whiskers shimmied as she wiggled her round black covered nose. She giggled shyly then slightly turned to seductively wag her long bushy tail.
"Meow, Captain Jack!" she purred while her fingers teasingly lingered. Jack’s hand instantly began to sweat inside the imitated cowhide material.
"I love your costume, Captain Jack. I’m delighted you took my advice…it’s so becoming of you!" She playfully adjusted his weathered tricorn hat. Jack shifted uneasily from one tight fitted boot to the other. His left eye began to nervously twitch under the black eye patch.
"Your advice? Do I know you?" he questioned. For a brief moment he felt confused. Joy Vorseck purposely evaded his inquisitive nature and leaned heavily against his rigid body. Jack immediately became delighted with the notion of seducing this gorgeous woman.
"I know this may sound a bit silly, but are you part of the political scene or one of the celebrity groupies," he asked knowing full well she did not belong to either sect.
"Why, Captain Jack McFadden, I’m whoever you want me to be!" she taunted in a soft voice. Her dainty and intriguing laugh excited him. His heart began to beat faster as he reeled with anticipation and bated breath.
"Follow me, Captain Jack." And without waiting for his reply, Joy eagerly grabbed his hand and escorted him up the grand spiraling staircase.
"Where are we going?" he asked with hesitation. Joy shrugged her shoulders then anxiously tugged at his hand until they were both standing directly in front of Room 102.
"Are you staying here at the hotel?" he inquired. With ease, Joy slowly reached down and removed a card key from under the doormat.
"If you want me to be," she answered seductively. Her whispering voice echoed lightly within the long empty corridor. It didn’t take long before they were both inside the luxurious suite.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Jack nervously looked around the exquisite stateroom. He began to feel a bit uneasy as she meticulously locked the heavy oak door.
"Captain Jack, you don’t want to weigh anchor before we even get started, do you?" Her covered fingertips gently touched his sweating brow while a devious grin crawled across her lovely face.
"Look, Joy, I don’t mean to be a scallywag but…" And before he could finish his sentence, she abruptly turned away and remained silent.
"Joy, you’re a knock out for heaven’s sake! It’s not that I don’t want to…well, it would be great and…you see, I work for The Morning Star. I’m a part-time journalist. I’m supposed to be covering the story on who’s who here at the Wyatt…" Jack’s conscious collided with his manly instincts.
"You’re rambling Captain Jack," she said without turning around. But her words sounded thick and heavy.
"Say, are you alright, Joy?" asked Jack with concern as he took a step closer. And as he lightly touched her slouching shoulder, Joy Vorseck quickly swirled about to face him.
"What the…?" he mumbled in fear. Joy’s beautiful and sensual body had manifested into a horrible and frightening creature. Instinctively, Jack stepped back away from the hideous beast.
"Something wrong, Captain Jack?" She hissed viciously while thick gooey saliva dripping from her protruding fangs. Eagerly, as if to strike, she raised her scaled claw exposing deadly curved nails.
"This can’t be happening to me!" he whined as overwhelming panic seized him pumping his blood furiously throughout his veins.
"No!" he screamed out in anguish. Jack McFadden hopelessly grasped at the agonizing pain soaring inside his chest before suddenly collapsing to the floor.
The old clock on the mantel struck twelve as Jack impulsively forced open his burning eyes. The dingy, run down apartment was still. As reality quickly set in, he chuckled lightly to himself and then ran his shaky fingers through his mussed up hair. But as he strolled barefoot across the tiled floor, he noticed something unusual on the round kitchen table. A large package had been neatly covered in plain brown paper with no return address. His name, "Jack McFadden," had been centered and neatly printed in huge black letters. He searched his memory and could not recollect receipt of the ominous box. Just then his cell phone chimed a catchy tune.
"Hello?" he answered hesitantly.
"Jack, my boy; I took the liberty of having a costume delivered to you from Spirit World. Now, don’t forget about the story. I want a full report on my desk by Monday morning." Stanley Whitmore had hung up before Jack could respond.
Jack stared at the mysterious package on his table. He waited a second or two, then took a deep breath and meticulously peeled off the outer wrapping. Stunned by its contents, Jack McFadden instantaneously fell back onto the wooden chair. Inside, resting in a bed of red velvet was a complete pirate outfit along with a brief bold note which read: "See you soon! Love, Joy."
Alice Baburek: I have been writing for over 10 years and enjoy every minute of it! I live with my partner and many feline friends in Brooklyn, Ohio. It would be a great honor to have my story published in Long Story Short. You have my permission to use my email address for reader cotnact should you decide to publish my work.
