Pirates & Treasure Island

Knock, knock, knock – the waves tap at the old wood, and Ella opens both eyes. Golden morning light comes through the round porthole and lands on the bunk. The ship rocks, soft and slow. “What’s out there?” whispers Ella, with a tummy fizzing like bubbly water. Knock, knock, knock.

Knock, knock, knock – the waves tap at the old wood, and Ella opens both eyes. Golden morning light comes through the round porthole and lands on the bunk. The ship rocks, soft and slow. “What’s out there?” whispers Ella, with a tummy fizzing like bubbly water. Knock, knock, knock.

Up on deck it smells of salt air and fresh bread. Ella bites into a crusty piece – and a cheeky seagull swoops, snatch!, grabs the last crumb off the edge and flies away. Ella giggles so hard the bread wobbles. Knock, knock, knock – the sea answers, patient as ever.

Up on deck it smells of salt air and fresh bread. Ella bites into a crusty piece – and a cheeky seagull swoops, snatch!, grabs the last crumb off the edge and flies away. Ella giggles so hard the bread wobbles. Knock, knock, knock – the sea answers, patient as ever.

While tidying up, a floorboard sounds hollow under one foot. Ella kneels down, lifts the plank and finds something yellowed. A map! A red path winds to a small palm island, and right in the middle glows a red cross. Ella leans closer. How did this map get here?

While tidying up, a floorboard sounds hollow under one foot. Ella kneels down, lifts the plank and finds something yellowed. A map! A red path winds to a small palm island, and right in the middle glows a red cross. Ella leans closer. How did this map get here?

Ella stands at the big wooden wheel and turns it toward the island. The ship obeys. Creak! say the planks, happily. Up at the bow Ella leans far out and scans the waves – there! Two dolphins flash silver through the turquoise water. Knock, knock, knock – the sea calls Ella onward.

Ella stands at the big wooden wheel and turns it toward the island. The ship obeys. Creak! say the planks, happily. Up at the bow Ella leans far out and scans the waves – there! Two dolphins flash silver through the turquoise water. Knock, knock, knock – the sea calls Ella onward.

On the white beach Ella lands barefoot in warm sand. A little parrot with fire-red and yellow feathers sits in a palm and shrieks: “This way, this way!” He hops from branch to branch, deeper into the island. Ella hesitates – then follows him, curious, in among the palms.

On the white beach Ella lands barefoot in warm sand. A little parrot with fire-red and yellow feathers sits in a palm and shrieks: “This way, this way!” He hops from branch to branch, deeper into the island. Ella hesitates – then follows him, curious, in among the palms.

All at once Ella is standing at a wide, glittering stream. The parrot flies across and calls: “This way!” But the safe way back to the beach lies behind now. Ella looks at the water. Deep? Cold? Unknown. Ella’s heart knocks – and then, there: flat stones, half under the water. Slowly, one foot reaches out.

All at once Ella is standing at a wide, glittering stream. The parrot flies across and calls: “This way!” But the safe way back to the beach lies behind now. Ella looks at the water. Deep? Cold? Unknown. Ella’s heart knocks – and then, there: flat stones, half under the water. Slowly, one foot reaches out.

The first stone wobbles. Whoa! Ella sways, both arms fly up into the air – and Ella stays standing. Stone by stone. Wet feet. One more step. At last a jump to the grassy bank, landing with both feet in soft moss. Ella is across! The parrot dances on his branch and calls: “This way, this way!”

The first stone wobbles. Whoa! Ella sways, both arms fly up into the air – and Ella stays standing. Stone by stone. Wet feet. One more step. At last a jump to the grassy bank, landing with both feet in soft moss. Ella is across! The parrot dances on his branch and calls: “This way, this way!”

At the red cross Ella digs with both hands in the warm sand. Deeper. Deeper still – clack! Fingers bump into wood. A small chest. Inside there is no gold, but a glowing picture: Ella’s laugh, the ship, the sea, the stream with the wet stones. As if the island had seen it all and kept it safe.

At the red cross Ella digs with both hands in the warm sand. Deeper. Deeper still – clack! Fingers bump into wood. A small chest. Inside there is no gold, but a glowing picture: Ella’s laugh, the ship, the sea, the stream with the wet stones. As if the island had seen it all and kept it safe.

Ella holds the picture tight and wades back across the stream, this time without stopping to think. Knock, knock, knock – and there are the waves again, right at the beach. The parrot calls one last “This way!” and vanishes into the green. The ship is waiting. Ella climbs aboard and sets the sails into the golden evening.

Ella holds the picture tight and wades back across the stream, this time without stopping to think. Knock, knock, knock – and there are the waves again, right at the beach. The parrot calls one last “This way!” and vanishes into the green. The ship is waiting. Ella climbs aboard and sets the sails into the golden evening.

Back in the harbour Ella snuggles under a soft blanket, the picture still in hand. Overhead the first stars twinkle. Knock, knock, knock – very quiet, very close. Ella closes both eyes and smiles. Tomorrow the sea will knock with new questions. And tomorrow Ella will listen again.

Back in the harbour Ella snuggles under a soft blanket, the picture still in hand. Overhead the first stars twinkle. Knock, knock, knock – very quiet, very close. Ella closes both eyes and smiles. Tomorrow the sea will knock with new questions. And tomorrow Ella will listen again.