I climbed to the top of the rigging to sit and think about things. It wa smy birthday soon and I would be 17 years old. I was almost a man.

A man. I chuckled to myself.

Sleepy I was not in the crows nest, for what seemed like the first time ever! down below on the deck i could see boulder working hard as usual. boulder was my idol! I wished i could be jsut like him when I grew up. However i knew I could never be like him. Only I knew this. It was my secret. I told no one.

A noise behind me made me turn around. there was someone else climbing the rigging.

"don't mind me!" I said with a smile

I climbed up the rigging.
I never been up here befor and i felt like exploring.
When i reached the top i saw Max Decker.
"hello" i said to him.

"Hello there..... Grace isn't it?" I aksed the woman as she came and sat next to me.
I knew little of her. People said she could transform into a cat. She must be a very powerful woman!
"My name is Max," I said quietly. I saw Grace look at me and knew what she was gonig to ask. "I'm sixteen!" I said nodding my head, "I know I look younger but I am sixteen I swear it!"