The Night I Flunked My Field Trip #5 by Henry Winkler Read Free Book Online Page A

THEY LET US ON THE SHIP, a man from the Coast Guard came and talked to us about boat safety. He told us where the life vests were and how to signal if we were in distress and what to do in foul weather. I don’t know why we had to hear all that stuff. It wasn’t like we were even leaving the dock.
    After he left, we waited in line to go onto the ship, which wasn’t so bad because it gave me time to take a good look at The Pilgrim Spirit. She was painted black on the bottom, and made entirely out of wood. The sails were mostly square, except for three big triangle ones at the front and one at the back. Excuse me. I meant to say fore and aft. There was a gangway, which is a ramp, leading from the dock onto the ship.
    Ms. Adolf and Mr. Lingg, who was the teacher from PS 9, got on board first. We couldn’t see where they went, but someone said they went below deck where there are special quarters for the teachers.
    They let the kids go on board one at a time. Just before you stepped on the deck, you had to say your name to the sailor at the top of the gangway and salute.
    Ashley had gone off with Chelsea and some kids from PS 9 including Collin “Mr. Perfect” Rich. Frankie and I were among the last kids to get on board. I arranged it that way because I figured the last ones to go on were going to be closest to the front. When you’re on the short side like I am, you always have to figure out how to be in front. That’s one of my rules. Otherwise, you spend a lot of time looking at the back of someone’s head.
    Heather Payne was standing behind us as we waited to board.
    â€œI think I’m seasick,” she said.
    â€œHeather, get it together. We’re on dry land,” Frankie pointed out.
    â€œThen I think I’m landsick,” she answered.
    We let her go ahead of us, just in case she barfed. Never stand in front of someone who’s about to barf. That’s another one of my rules.
    Although The Pilgrim Spirit was tied to the dock, it was still bobbing up and down in the water. You couldn’t tell it was moving from looking at it. But when it was my turn to walk up the gangway to get on board, I could feel the motion. In fact, the boat swayed so much, I had to grab onto the rope so I wouldn’t fall over into the water.
    â€œAhoy there, you scurvy dog,” I heard a man yell. I looked around. Was he yelling at me? He couldn’t be. I didn’t do anything yet!
    â€œThat’s right! I’m talking to you, you lilylivered flea.”
    I looked up and standing on the deck of the ship was a large man with a ponytail and a bright red beard. He was wearing a ruffled shirt and a black sea captain’s jacket with those gold fringy things on the shoulders. There was no doubt about it. He was definitely talking—make that yelling—at me.
    â€œAye, I’m talking to you, landlubber,” he yelled, putting his face right next to mine. “Did you forget to bring your sea legs, you little worm?”
    â€œNo, your honor. I’m sure I packed them.”
    â€œYou’ll call me sir when you speak to me, or speak not at all!” he yelled. He wheeled around and faced the other kids. “And that goes for all you scurvy dogs. You’re a sorry lot, and you’ll respect your captain or I’ll have you flogged!”
    None of us could tell if he was being serious or not. Wow. Ms. Adolf had told us that the captain would be acting like real captains did back in the old days. I had no idea it would be this real, though.
    â€œI am Captain Josiah Barker,” he said. He pointed to another man, much shorter and chubbier, who was dressed in a leather vest like an old-time sailor. “This is my first mate, Theodore Gladson. We run this vessel and you don’t breathe without an order from Officer Gladson or myself. Is that clear?”
    We all looked at our feet and muttered something like, “Yes, sir.” I noticed that