Calico Jack was the nickname given to John Rackham, a pirate who stalked the Caribbean seas.
For this week’s Friday-Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle, I have added my flavour in a mixture of fiction, myth and fact. So thank you Brenda for the engaging photo prompt, I can taste the fresh pineapple and feel the warm breeze.
More Friday Fictioneers’ tall tales, HERE.
The Curse of Calico Jack
Grandma Louise sells pineapples and nutmeg from a shack, where she distils molasses rum. At sunset we swat mosquitoes, and sip from chipped glasses, as she laughs about her pirate ancestors.
She knows the whereabouts on Barbados of a casket pilfered from Calico Jack by his lover, Anne Bonny. He cursed her to hell as he dangled in Port Royal, and she vanished like a silk scarf in a Caribbean storm.
Grandma won’t reveal where Anne’s ghostly soul lies and the fate of the Spanish plunder.
She just smiles, sipping rum, and nods to her pineapple fields and nutmeg trees.
James McEwan 
A tale within a tale, nicely done! Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for being entertained. Arrr, as the pirates say.
LikeLike
Dear James,
Love the atmosphere and characters you’ve created. Lovely read that left me wondering.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
it is all in the spirit of fun Thank you.
LikeLike
I’m betting if you dig up Grandma’s field ……
LikeLiked by 1 person
The best pirate gold stories can last for years. From my research most pirates squandered their share of the plunder and the idea of buried treasure is a myth. Well they have to say that don’t they.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A nicely written tale unfolded as I read it.
I think grandma may have a special fertilizer in the field.
Nice take on the prompt. Have a good weekend …
Isadora 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks. Enjoy your weekend too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will … thanks 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
This took me back to the amazing time I had on a pirate ship in Barbados and drank so much rum punch that I didn’t remember getting off!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Arrr, rum and hot sun is a wild combination.
LikeLike
Fun story, James. Just a couple more ingredients to make fine piña coladas. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice cocktail, thanks Bill.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aye, matey! And entertaining tale!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Arrr, a Jolly Roger flutters on the mast.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Skillful weaving of fact with fiction, and I enjoyed the ending very much. Vivid descriptors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Arrr, I think Grandma Louise has already squandered my pirate inheritance. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, James.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice description: “vanished like a silk scarf in a Caribbean storm”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Frank, every word a fleeting image from one mind to another, so writers say.
LikeLiked by 1 person
very clever getting such a sense of location in such a tiny word count. I could feel the warm breeze and smell the ocean.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Diane.
LikeLike
What Grandma Louise knows, stays with Grandma Louise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. It’s no use I tried more rum, but Grandma Louise will not tell me where she has hidden the treasure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bags of atmosphere in this piece.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sandra.
LikeLike
hmm… it makes me wonder what grandma’s true identity is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I expect she likes the grandkids always asking her about it so she can expand on her story 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s how she keeps from being lonely. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I love this. You left us with a mystery only grandma knows and we can guess. Intriguing tale. Great line … she vanished like a silk scarf in a Caribbean storm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Brenda. I love your photograph as it as so much potential for tall tales.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is brilliant. Grandma Louise is a great character and the mood and details drew me right in. Love it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Margaret, I am pleased you were entertained.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmmmmm I wonder
Terrific hint of mystery here, she knows far more than she’s telling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a fantastic world. Leaves me wanting to know more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Grandma knows a lot of secrets. Nicely done James
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you , Vartika.
LikeLike
A wise old owl is Grandma. Great story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great tale, atmospheric and lively. I bet grandma used the money to buy her land.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suspect she did, a wise woman. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think Grandma’s taking some secrets to her grave. She could tell, but that would be cheating. Her descendants need to keep that pirate spirit alive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Arrr, they do matey. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person