Jenny Vigil
A SAILOR...OF SORTS
I could not believe what had just taken place. I looked up at the sky, the spot I thought I had just occupied. The sky was blue with the fluffiest clouds hanging heavily. I thought about Sirenetta’s story and the feeling of inspiration returned. I stood up, looked around and was happy to see that the violent crowd was beginning to disperse.
“Hello again!” It was the sailor who had offered me food earlier. “What chaos! These sailors are running around with an itch to fight. Are you all right? You didn’t get caught in the middle of that did you?” he asked me.
I knew that I could not even attempt to explain to him the experience I just had so I replied, “No, I stayed clear and observed the situation, thank you.”
“Are you still looking for a bite to eat? If so, come on board and we will see what we can do.”
I slowly walked towards the ramp that led up to the deck of the grand ship. It looked to be a ship prepared for battle. The sails were amazing. I had not ever seen such a sight.
I followed the kind sailor down below deck and took in all there was to see.
“Here, put these on,” the sailor said to me. He handed me a cap and a bulky jacket. “We do not want to cause any more problems this afternoon. If the rest of the crew returns and finds a young girl on board, for any reason, there is likely to be trouble.”
My eyes grew large and I did as he said. I was surprised at my level of comfort around this strange sailor. There was something different in this man that I could not explain.
“What is your name?” he asked me. “I am Calliope,” I said. “You can call me John Taylor,” he said.
The sailor prepared a large plate of food for me. It was the best meal I could hope for and I thanked the sailor. About the time I felt I should be going we heard heavy steps above us.
“The crew has returned, don’t worry,” the sailor assured me.
A burly looking man dressed in full uniform made his way down and the sailor turned to him and said, “Good evening, Captain Bowen, this is... ", but the captain cut him off quickly.
”No time! We have just been given immediate orders. The French Republic has declared war...we must set sail at once!”
I could not believe it! What an adventure it would be to be a part of a battle at sea!
The sailor began to escort me off of the ship with haste for the crew had already begun preparations to ready the ship for voyage and battle.
“Wait,” I said, with a new sense of courage that I had not felt before, “please, let me stay. I can work.”
“No, this is dangerous work. No place for girls,” said the sailor.
I could see something in the sailor's face that led me to believe he didn’t quite believe what he had said. He paused and after a moment said, “Okay, but you cannot reveal your sex.”
And so we set sail. The sailor introduced me as the new deck hand and that was that.
After many days at sea battle began. The sights I saw, the sounds I heard would never leave my memory.
I stayed low and out of the way of the crew and the fighting. I helped when I could. I tried to keep near to the sailor who befriended me. His courage was brilliant. He fought with such determination and loyalty to his country. I felt pride in knowing such a brave fighter.
After the heat of battle had subsided, the injured and dead were observed. Among the dead, we discovered, was Captain Bowen.
I found John below deck in his quarters. I was sure that when I first entered the room I saw tears in his eyes. I knew this could not be, what sailor cried over the death of a crew member? The sailor started for the corner of the room and I could tell that he was in pain.
“Are you all right? Are you wounded?” I asked him. To my surprise John burst into tears and began speaking rapidly. “I am not who you think I am! I was born a woman! My name is Mary Anne Talbot. I am known to the crew as a man and cannot let them think otherwise! I have been injured, but this I will not let on. I happened to be in the way of a musquet ball. It hit my ribs. If I declare my injury to the crew it might reveal my sex. I also was struck by the blade of a sword wielded by one of the crew members, an accident. I hated the Captain! I cannot believe that I am having to fight the tears for his death. It is the sympathetic way in which I was raised. “
I could not believe my ears! The sailor was a woman. I realized my instincts had been telling me this all along.
“Have you pretended to be a male in order to be a sailor?” I asked.
Mary Anne shook her head and said, “Well, I will start from the beginning. My mother died while giving birth to me. My father, Lord Talbot, was never around. I never laid eyes on him. My older sister took the place of my mother, but I saw very little of her. My childhood was not a happy one. I did not suffer any cruelties, just loneliness. When I was fourteen I was called away from school and placed into the hands of Captain Essex Bowen. He was not a good guardian. He insisted that I be his mistress and then he insisted I be his slave. I did not have any choice but to accompany him to war as his ‘footboy’. After some time I felt more comfortable at sea. I became more skilled at my work and eventually felt like a true sailor. I did not plan to be so comfortable in this line of work, but here I am.”
I had been listening carefully to Mary Anne’s amazing story. I felt such respect for her and her life. She had lived a sad and lonely life, but found the courage to change all of that.
“Calliope, I will have to leave the fight while my wounds heal. I cannot afford for the crew to find out my secret. I am going to make my way to England. You are welcome to join me.”
Mary Anne and I made our plans and prepared for a trip to England. I never made it to England. I never saw Mary Anne again, either. During what was to be our last night on board we were attacked by pirates. Sirenetta was right...hard times were yet to come.
Bibliography:
Links to songsheets by Howard L. Kaplan: Lyrics, music, and MIDI files
by Howard L. Kaplan
Website: "This is the Quick-loading, No-nonsense, Howard L. Kaplan Songwriter and Occasional Performer Disambiguation Web Page"
Weblink: Thrinberry
Author's Note:
This is only a very small bit of the true story of the incredible Mary Anne Talbot. The story that Mary Anne shares with Calliope about her life up to that point follows historical record. I would recommend reading the entire story. In my story, Calliope is going to meet Mary Anne, who introduces herself as John Taylor, and ends up battling the French Republic with the rest of the crew. . The image I chose probably resembles a ship which Mary Anne would have sailed on, but is a bit later in history.
Image Information:
USS United States and HMS Macedonian
by Arthur N. Disney, Sr.
Weblink: USS and HMS
Links to songsheets by Howard L. Kaplan: Lyrics, music, and MIDI files
by Howard L. Kaplan
Website: "This is the Quick-loading, No-nonsense, Howard L. Kaplan Songwriter and Occasional Performer Disambiguation Web Page"
Weblink: Thrinberry
Author's Note:
This is only a very small bit of the true story of the incredible Mary Anne Talbot. The story that Mary Anne shares with Calliope about her life up to that point follows historical record. I would recommend reading the entire story. In my story, Calliope is going to meet Mary Anne, who introduces herself as John Taylor, and ends up battling the French Republic with the rest of the crew. . The image I chose probably resembles a ship which Mary Anne would have sailed on, but is a bit later in history.
Image Information:
USS United States and HMS Macedonian
by Arthur N. Disney, Sr.
Weblink: USS and HMS