CHAPTER 8

The Pirate

Being Jayden Jason James—aka Triple J, the most popular kid in school—wasn’t easy. Everyone looked to him as a leader. If Dev ran out of lunch money, Dev knew Triple J would loan him a few bucks. If Emma needed a shoulder to cry on? Triple J had her back. Study partner, teammate, gaming buddy. He was all those things because he was dependable. He was the closest thing Classroom 13 had to a class president. He was the best. Well, usually he was…

…but not today.

Today, he was a pirate.

This morning, Triple J strapped on his best hook and eye patch. He made a peg leg out of cardboard and bought a stuffed parrot from the costume store. He painted over some of his teeth and drew a fake beard around his mouth. This was no longer the face of Triple J, beloved hero of Classroom 13. No, no, no. This was now the dastardly mug of Captain Triple J, the Dread Pirate.

When he got to class, his “Arrrghhhs” and “Yo-ho-hos” were just bad impressions. But soon after coming to Classroom 13, he’d become the real deal.

Olivia didn’t know this when she asked him for help. “Triple J, what are we gonna do?”

“We? Arrrghhhh ye askin’ me to join my crew, lass?” The Dread Pirate Captain Triple J scowled, poking her ribs with his hook.

“No! I need your help to figure out how to turn everyone back to normal!”

“You can hire me and my mates, all for just five gold doubloons, me hearty,” the pirate growled.

“Oh no, not you, too!” Olivia said.

“Fine. Two and a half gold shillings, but that be me final offer, ya scallywag!”

“Jayden, I don’t have any gold!”

“NO gold?” he asked her.

“Yes, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,” she sighed. “I need your help. I don’t have time to play pirates.”

The dread pirate was deeply offended. He didn’t play pirate. He was a pirate. So he did what any good dread pirate would do: He tied her up, stood her on Ms. Linda’s desk, and said, “Time to walk the plank!”

“It’s not a plank—it’s the teacher’s desk,” Olivia corrected.

“Enjoy feedin’ the fishes, landlubber!” Triple J poked his sword at her back and made her step off the desk.

Olivia rolled her eyes as she landed on her feet and untied herself. She didn’t realize how fortunate she was. Dev had planned on dressing up like a shark, but the costume got lost in the mail. If it had arrived in time? Well… let’s just say things would have gotten messy. Whew.