Captain Nutmeg and the Sleepy Sea
On a fine little ship with a patched white sail, there sailed the smallest, jolliest pirate on all the seven seas — a young pirate captain named Nutmeg, in a big feathered hat that kept slipping down over one eye.
What adventures Nutmeg had had that day! She had steered the ship through the splashing waves. She had climbed the tall mast to keep a lookout for land. She had followed an old map to a sandy island and dug up a chest of glittering treasure. "Yo ho ho!" she had cried, all day long, sailing under the bright blue sky.
But now the sun was setting, low and golden, over the wide calm sea. The waves had grown gentle and slow. The wind had softened to a warm and sleepy breeze. And Captain Nutmeg gave a great big yawn.
"Time to drop the anchor, crew," she said. So down went the anchor, splash, into the quiet water. Down came the sail, folding softly away. And the little ship rocked, ever so gently, on the calm and sleepy sea. Up… and down. Up… and down. Slow and soft, like a cradle.
Nutmeg climbed into her little bunk below deck, where a round window showed the rising moon. She took off her big feathered hat and set it carefully by her side. And she thought about the most important treasure of all.
"Gold and jewels are fine," she yawned, snuggling under her cosy blanket. "But every good pirate knows the very best treasure is a warm bunk, a calm sea, and a good night's sleep."
The ship rocked her gently, up and down, up and down. The waves lapped softly against the hull. The moon shone in through the little round window, silver and kind, and far above, the stars came out like scattered silver coins across the sky.
And the smallest, jolliest pirate on all the seven seas — rocked to sleep by the gentle, sleepy sea — closed her eyes, hugged her feathered hat, and sailed off, happy and warm, into a night full of wonderful dreams.