a

Challenge: Cotton's Parrot
May 4 , 2005

By Jean Berger
May 4, 2005

~ Parrot Drabble ~

Gibbs turned to the deck watch. “Sailor, what have ye for the Cap’n?”

Mister Cotton stepped forward coming to stiff attention. The beautifully colored parrot on his shoulder spread its wings, “Two by sea. Two by sea!
Squawk!” the bird gruffly announced. From behind his back, hidden from Turner’s sight, the old man spread five fingers. A mischievous wink of an
eye was given to Captain and First Mate.

“Mister Cotton’s bird reports five ships, Cap’n,” Gibbs reported in straight-faced gravity.

Will Turner tilted his head with a look of suspicion toward the bird that had spoken for the mute pirate.

“Thank you, Mister Cotton’s parrot,” Sparrow acknowledged, his thoughts seemingly elsewhere as he turned his eyes toward the nest.

“You’re going to take the word of a---a bird?” Will asked in disbelief.

Sparrow looked up in mock surprise. “Mister Cotton’s parrot has always been a man---a bird---of his word, why would I not trust what he has to say?”

Will Turner, speechless at the absurdity of Sparrow’s comment, missed the quick conspiratorial glances exchanged among his three companions.

By Erinya
May 4, 2005

~ Time to Fly ~

"So this is where your heart truly lies, then?"

‘Course it is. They’d all seen it coming, hadn’t they? Dead obvious, ‘cept maybe to the whelp himself, mooning and pussyfooting about and fumbling opportune moments right and left the way he did. But the Commodore, poor blighter, he looked utterly crushed. Oh, the façade still held, but barely. I’ll be damned, he really does love the girl. Although, when one considered the girl in question, slender and defiant with those lovely eyes all aflame, ’twas easy enough to understand--

A flash of blue and gold distracted him. Squinting up at the great fool bird flapping about on the cross-bar of the Navy standard, he missed Elizabeth’s answer. He knew that bird! Been nearly shat on by it repeatedly en route to Isla De Muerta. Threatened to fricassee it nigh a dozen times to end its blasted squawking.

He’d never been so pleased to see any creature as he was now at the sight of old Cotton’s macaw.

As he watched, the parrot cocked its head at him, and quite deliberately...yes, he could’ve sworn it winked one beady eye.

"Well!" Jack Sparrow exclaimed brightly. “I’m actually feeling rather good about this..."

By Jenthegypsy
May 4, 2005

~ Who Really Rescued Captain Jack Sparrow ~

To hear ‘em tell it, it was them what saved The Capt'n, but I knows the truth of it – n so does he. You would too, if you'd just open your bleedin' eyes an' remember what ya saw….

The Whelp walks inta the midst o' that great flock o' people, mischief on his mind, but not a plan. With one well timed "squuaaaak!” I attracts his attention an 'he knows the Pearl is near, so he decides to do something stupid.

The blasted drums take to clamoring, the noose is set about The Capt'ns scrawny neck, an' he turns to look at The Girl – who, of course, looks away – an' straight at me. I takes flight to attract her attention an' she knows the Pearl is near, so she decides to pretend to faint.

There's quite a fuss set up, an' soon The Whelp, The Girl an' The Capt'n are starin' down them two fancified gents an' all them red coats. Right about then The Capt'n throws a look up to the heavens an' what does he see? Tha's right, mates, he sees ME, sittin' pretty as ya please a'top o' that old cannon. I takes flight out ta sea an' the Capt'n knows the Pearl is near, so he takes a tumble off'n the cliffs an' nigh to kills hisself then and there.

Well now, when we was finally able to get him back aboard the Pearl, you'll be rememberin' how it was My Man handed him that ol' hat o' his. To this day the ol' man thinks it was him The Capt'n was thankin' - for the hat! HA!

It was ME he was thankin' boy'os, cause we knows, him an' me, who it was what really saved Captain Jack Sparrow.

By Nancy
May 4, 2005

~ Flight of Fancy ~

"Tell us again how Captain Sparrow escaped from Fort Charles," chirped a small voice from the eager sea of faces at Gibbs's feet.

"We all know it was my Pa who helped him escape," said another little voice, somewhat impatiently.

Hunkering down and lowering his voice he smiled, "It wasn't so much an escape, as a flight, you see. It all started just as the hangman was about to put the noose around Jack's neck. Mr. Cotton's parrot flew in and came to rest on top of one of the banners."

"I heard that he shat on one of the marines," someone whispered, encouraging a cascade of giggles.

Once it subsided, he continued, "Your Pa, young Miss Turner, he saw the bird, and knowing an opportune moment when it arises he threw himself right into the thick of the crowd. Will's sword flew through the air just in time for Jack to balance on it as the floor dropped out from under him. Quick as a flash, Will leapt up and with his other sword cut the rope that Jack dangled from and pushed the executioner off, right on top of the Commodore. Then as if taking the cue from the Parrot he jumped, right over the heads of the waiting Marines with Jack holding the other end of the rope. Using the rope they knocked scores of them right off their feet and headed for the only exit available."

"The cliff?"

"Aye, the very same cliff that bears the sharpest rocks in all the harbor at the base. But Jack knew that the Pearl was close and so he tumbled out into the air. For a few brief moments he soared," Gibbs extended his arms a bit.

"Plummeted is more like it," Jack whispered to the child seated on his lap.

"I'll not be havin' you ruin this story as well, Captain," Gibbs raised an eyebrow at Jack before continuing. "Flew he did, just like that Parrot sitting over yonder. If the Pearl had been any closer he'd have landed right on her deck!"

"Ooooh," they chorused and then clamored for another tale.

By Felaine
May  5, 2005

~ Recruiting ~
From the personal log of Jack Sparrow, Captain of the Black Pearl:

Poor Hector.

Not really funny but I had to laugh when Bill told me the tale. Knew something 'd happened when Hector came back from the Sailor's Lament with his face scratched and bleeding, but it's not like THAT hasn't happened before.

Seems Hector was making good his offer to recruit men for our voyage; talking to some old mute sailor. Just as he's about to sign on, this wild
jungle bird attacks Hector; clawing his face, pulling his hair and screaming in some heathen tongue no civilized man can ken. Then when Hector tries to bat the parrot away with his hat, it craps on him.

The sailor takes off out the door, the bird flies out through a window and Hector has seven kinds of cat fits, what with the blood and the feathers and
the bird shit. Got himself thrown out of the Sailor's Lament, which ain't easy to do. It's not a high-toned respectable place like the Faithful Bride.

Finding a crew must be dangerous work-lucky I'm leaving it to him.

By Eledhwen
May 5, 2005

~ How Cotton Met Parrot ~

The bird caught his eye for two reasons. Firstly, it was large and very brightly coloured, in vivid blue and gold. Secondly, it was sitting on a perch in a
cage telling passers-by, very seriously, that “Davy Jones is dancing a jig”.

Cotton stopped, and eyed it up. It stopped squawking and eyed him back, and then cocked its head to one side and asked, “When do we sail?”

Money was handed over, a cage door opened. And Cotton walked back aboard his ship with the parrot on his shoulder, and a voice for the first time in five years.

By DebH
September 6, 2005

~ Precious Gift ~

A flash of blue and gold whisked past the window, then filled it with flappings and flutterings a moment later. Parrot walked carefully across the chest and stepped down onto the cradle’s side, his small weight making the bed rock.

The cradle’s tiny occupant cooed in her sleep. The macaw tilted his head first one way, then the other, to observe the poor flightless creature. Decision made, Parrot began preening his tail.

Later, leaping out the window, he delivered his verdict: “Silver and gold!”

At the end of the cradle, below the baby’s feet, there rested a large blue feather.



>^..^<

By Rennie
May 6, 2005

~ Impasse ~


One last swig of rum, singing its siren's call.

One thirsty, sweaty pirate.

One thirsty, dusty parrot.

One tanned dirty hand wrapped around the bottle neck.

One massive beak wrapped around a lean wrist.

A black beady eye encircled by white skin glared a challenge into a black encircled brown eye, neither combatant willing to retreat an eyelash's width from the treasure.

The Pearl and her crew fell deathly silent, as the stand-off stretched on between the combatants.

"Oh, for the love of …!"

A single shot from Anamaria's pistol shattered the bottle, to horrified shrieks from pirate and parrot.

By Hereswith
May 9, 2005

~ Voice ~

His voice had been stolen from him, he had been robbed of it, in a fury of pain and blood and protests cut short. And there had been silence. Such silence.

He had tried to force the words out, past the stunted obstacle in his mouth, but never managed to, though he sputtered and choked from the effort, and wept, because he could not curse.

But the silence had been shattered, by something yellow and blue, something winged and insistent, that gave back to him what had been lost. Tongue. Speech. Voice.

He would protect that bird with his life.

~.~

All our authors thrive on feedback. Email the Webmaster to have comments forwarded to the author.

Back to Drabble Menu