The Adventures of Billy, a Pirate's Boy

By Judy Wolfman and Brett Greiman

Billy falls overboard from a yacht, into the sea. His cries for help go unheard, and he uses his swimming skills to try to reach the shore. He floats on his back and falls asleep. He awakens and finds himself on the back of a dolphin that takes him close to shore. He swims the rest of the way, finds food and makes a place to sleep. When he wakes, he is surrounded by eight men, dressed as pirates, seeking a buried treasure. They take Billy with them as a pirate's boy. Thanks to Billy's encouragement, the men go to one more island and find a hidden treasure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669855767

Judy Wolfman

A retired elementary teacher, Judy Wolfman has had many books, plays, magazine articles, short stories and poems published. Most of her works is fiction for children, but some is historical fiction for all ages. In 1989, Judy became a professional storyteller and has told stories at various venues, including foreign countries and on cruise ships. She founded a reader's theatre troupe that performed throughout York County, Pennsylvania. Judy now lives at Country Meadows, where she conducts a variety of workshops for the residents. A mother of three grown children and four grandchildren, Judy resides in York, Pennsylvania.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Help! Billy yelled as his head broke through the blue waters of the Caribbean. Somebody help me!

But Billy’s cries were lost as soon as they hit the air. A lump formed in his throat and tears filled his eyes. As he waved, his father’s yacht move farther away. Hey, come back! Frantically, he waved his arms in the air, but no one seemed to see him.

This wasn’t supposed to happen, he told himself. He could hear his mother’s voice in his head, Don’t climb up on the railing, Billy. It’s too dangerous.

It’s not that he hadn’t believed her. But he was too short to look over the railing and see the beautiful yellow fish that swam by. And how was he to know that at that very moment, the bow of the yacht would hit a swell, making him lose his balance?

What do I do now? he asked himself. I’m too young to drown! he shouted. Billy gulped and took a deep breath. Gotta think.

Fortunately, he wore only shorts, so he wasn’t bogged down by heavy clothes and sneakers. I’m a good swimmer, he reminded himself. Recalling what his swimming instructor had taught him, Billy treaded water and breathed deeply. When he had filled his lungs with air, Billy began to swim.

He heard his instructor’s voice in his head. Reach! Pull! Kick! Breathe in! Blow out! The salt water made it easier for Billy to swim and stay on top.

Billy swam in the direction the yacht had gone. So he wouldn’t get too tired, he switched from one stroke to another over and over. Every now and then he’d roll onto his back and float. Looking up at the azure blue sky, Billy thought about this family vacation in the Caribbean. His dad had rented a villa for the family – all fourteen of them. Up until now, it had been great.

He thought about his eleven brothers and sisters. His mom and dad had adopted eight kids who weren’t as lucky as he. He had brothers and sisters of different colors and backgrounds, and loved having so many kids to play with. At twelve, Billy was a younger brother to most of them, and a big brother to some. Surely one of them had seen him fall overboard, even though he was alone at the back of the boat. Hadn’t anyone been looking in his direction?

Billy rolled over and began to swim again. Eventually I’ll come to an island, he thought, or maybe a boat will see me, and I’ll be saved.

Though Billy was a strong swimmer, he felt his arms and legs grow heavy. I must keep going, he told himself. He chanted, Reach! Pull! Kick! Breathe! Reach! Pull! Kick! Breathe.

Billy rolled onto his back and rested. The warm sun and the gentle movement of the water made him sleepy.

Billy closed his eyes and bobbed along in the water like a little cork.

CHAPTER 2

Suddenly, Billy’s eyes flew open. He didn’t know how long he had been asleep, but something had abruptly awakened him. He was moving through the water at an incredible speed. It was like being on a rocket or a torpedo. Was he dreaming?

Billy realized he was on top of something big. And smooth. He looked to the right, then he rolled his head to the left. He was on the back of a dolphin!

Billy smiled to himself. He had learned that when seamen saw dolphins, it was a sign their voyage would be smooth and happy.

Maybe this is a good sign for me, too he thought. Billy relaxed his tight muscles. Dolphins are friendly and won’t hurt me, he assured himself. And for the first time since he had fallen into the water, Billy felt safe.

He lay on the dolphin’s back and enjoyed speeding through the water. After only a few minutes, though, the dolphin slowed, then stopped. Gently it turned onto its side. Billy rolled off. Once again, he was in the water.

Why’d you dump me? he yelled at the dolphin. Don’t you want to save me?

The dolphin nudged Billy with its nose. Billy looked ahead of him and saw an island. A few strokes and he’d be on land!

Billy patted the dolphin’s nose. You did save me. I sure appreciate it.

The dolphin pushed Billy in the direction of the island as if to say, Go. You belong on land – not in the water.

Once again, Billy rubbed the dolphin’s nose. Thank you, my friend. I’ll never forget you. The dolphin leaped into the air, then dove deep into the blue water. Billy swam the short distance to the shore of the island.

On land, Billy searched for signs of life. But there were no hotels. No stores. No houses. No people.

Billy ran up and down the beach. Hello! Is anybody here? he shouted over and over. But the only sound he heard was his own voice and the waves lapping gently at the shore.

A lump formed in Billy’s throat. He felt a tightness in his chest. His breaths came in short, choppy pants.

Calm down, he told himself. This is not the time to panic. Think. What should I do now? Rumblings from his stomach reminded Billy that he hadn’t eaten in a long time. He knew what he had to do first – find food! Billy searched the line where the beach met jungle. He found some bananas and a cracked coconut lying on the ground. That satisfied his hunger