Cassie and James and the Mystical Whitby Jet Stone

By John Kennedy

Cassie and James return to Whitby in Yorkshire for another thrilling adventure with their pixie friend Ben Snorty

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9781447649007

John Kennedy

I was born in Birmingham of the West Midlands in the United Kingdom on 27th April 1971. Around my thirty-nine years I have seen two sides of life. One side being amazing but the other side has been a nightmare. By reading this you will see everything in my words and also read about medical and world subjects of and around the world.

Book preview

Whitby

Chapter One

It was spring. The daffodils and crocuses were already in bloom, all the signs that the long dark winter had finally ended, to James the winter had seemed never ending, apart from Halloween which was always great with dressing up to scare people, November fifth with the fireworks and then Christmas with Santa Claus bringing loads of presents to play with.

Spring may well have arrived, but winter was having its final fling, as James sat in his bedroom watching the rain running down the window pane. Sometimes the wind caught the raindrops and pushed them back to the top to make another bigger blob which then rushed down to the bottom, to be lost forever. James’s mind kept wandering back to the previous summer at his grandparents at Whitby and his adventures with Cassie and the pixie they had met called Snortlesquigleswick and how they had changed his name to Ben Snorty as it was easier to say. Especially the adventure with the pirates and all the fun they had with him and wished that summer would hurry up so he could return.

These thoughts suddenly reminded him of the treasure map he had taken from the pirate ship, so leaving the window he began to search. He remembered that he had put it in a secret place so no one could find it. However it was so secret he had forgotten where exactly he had hidden it.

After a long fruitless search, he suddenly remembered and dived under his bed and brought out his favourite tin box, he dusted it clean then opened it to reveal all his treasured possessions, like the seagull egg, the fossils and coloured stones, he had collected, also the Navy badges his Grand-dad had given him. He stared at the parchment that contained the map, thinking back to the time he had snatched it. He suddenly felt guilty, he knew it had been wrong and Ben Snorty would be angry if he found out, but at the time he didn’t think and had just taken it without giving it any thought. He slowly opened it, half expecting the Pirate Captain to jump out and grab him. The map was drawn in faded ink that had run in places where the salt water of the sea had touched it; however the directions were still very clear although it was a strange map, not like the ones he had seen in books, of islands with a cross marking the treasure. This one showed the entrance of a cave and arrows pointing the way underground to a cross. He felt really excited at the thought of going in search of the treasure on his next visit, not thinking of the danger he may face. He rolled up the map and carefully returned it to his secret box and hid it again so no one, especially Ella could find it.

He felt that he should ring Cassie and talk about there next holiday. He asked his Mums permission and after a brief chat to his Aunt Julie, he was speaking to Cassie. Whilst chatting to Cassie, he mentioned the map, What map asked Cassie in a puzzled voice. James realised his mistake and replied Oh I just made it up. Cassie would have none of this. James, tell me the truth, you didn’t take the map off that pirate ship did you. James meekly replied I didn’t mean to. Oh James I told you to drop it before we jumped into the sea. Now we will be in trouble with Ben, he won’t trust us any more. He won’t know unless we tell him. Tell you what, when we go back to Whitby I will leave it on the beach for the pirates to find it, then everything will be alright, blurted out James Somehow I don’t think it will be that easy sighed Cassie, thinking There he goes again, that James always causing me trouble. They then spent some time talking about what they would do on their next holiday and parted friends again, both longing for their next visit to Whitby.

CHAPTER TWO

The Message

Thankfully the spring turned to summer and the days became longer and the sun a little warmer. Which reminded James of a saying of Grand-dads, You can always tell when it is summer in England, the rain gets warmer James laughed to himself, thinking that it wouldn’t be long now before they would all be seeing Nana and Granddad again, in fact plans were being made to go and spend some time in Whitby very soon.

James, Ella, come quickly shouted their Mum from the kitchen.

What for replied James whose eyes were glued to the television screen watching his favourite cartoon. There’s a large seagull sat on the fence. This caught his attention as you don’t see many seagulls where he lived; he rushed into the kitchen, narrowly beating Ella in his rush.

The seagull appeared to have something in its mouth, which seemed odd. However their Mum didn’t seem to notice this, but asked them if they would like to go outside and give it some bread, telling them to walk ever so slowly so as not to frighten it away. They opened the kitchen door and each of them holding a piece of bread, slowly walked forward towards the bird. To their surprise the seagull flew down towards them which caused Ella to give out a little shriek and to hide behind James. James was about to scold Ella for frightening the bird away. But the seagull took no notice and alighted in front of them dropping the piece of paper from its beak at James’s feet. Slowly James bent down to pick up the paper, when the seagull said, Are you going to feed me or not Ella answered Sorry Mr Bird, here is the bread. What are you talking to the seagull for silly? This annoyed Ella who replied I spoke to the seagull because it spoke to me. Don’t talk nonsense said James, picking up the paper and unrolling it. Ella was puzzled by James’s reply, until the seagull squawked Its’ alright, only you can hear me talk it seems. Don’t worry" and began to eat the bread.

Meanwhile, James couldn’t believe what he was reading. The letter had Cassie’s and his name on it, it was from their pixie friend Ben Snorty. James read it carefully.

"Dear Cassie and James. Sorry to bother you at home, but something dreadful has happened. The pirates came ashore and left a message for me, saying that unless they get their treasure map back soon, terrible things would happen to us. I didn’t know what he meant as we don’t have their map. Then I remembered that last summer you went on board the pirate ship. I hope that you didn’t break the rules and took the map, if you have, let me know and I can arrange for it to be returned as quickly as possible.

Your friend

Ben Snorty.

James stared at the piece of paper for what seemed like a long time. His worst fears had come true, he had been caught out. He suddenly turned and ran into the house. Mum I must ring Cassie straight away please Mum, it is important. O.K. James calm down replied his puzzled Mum.

Hurry up Cassie and answer the phone Muttered James under his breath. His wish was answered, Oh hello, Aunt Julie is Cassie there please. He didn’t have long to wait before Cassie came to the phone. Cassie, the pirates are going to cause trouble for Ben Snorty James whispered so that his Mum couldn’t hear. What on earth are you gabbling on about James, slow down and tell me what has happened. James did has he was asked and slowly as he possibly could, explained what was in the letter and how it had arrived.

Whilst this was happening Ella was having a nice chat to the seagull. She had found out that it was a girl not a boy and that Ben Snorty who she remembered very vaguely, from the last holiday had sent her. They had also agreed to meet up next time that Ella was at Whitby. Tell that brother of yours to get a move on will you, I have to fly back to Whitby straight away and I want to be back before dark the seagull squawked. Ok I will said Ella and ran into the living room. "James the