The Magic Starts Here! by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2022-05-10T00:00:00+00:00

He crept toward the ladder. As he put his front paws on the rope, Henry ruffled his fur and scratched behind his ears. “In case you were wondering, the crow’s nest is really high. Looks pretty scary to me.”

Henry’s words didn’t help. Wally gulped. He looked at the captain. “Would it be okay if I take a second to…um, stretch?”

Captain Red Beard glared at him. “Fine.”

Wally dashed to the other end of the ship and stared out at the endless blue sea. He hung his head low. This was it: He would fail the test. He would get kicked off the ship. He would never, ever be a pirate. And all because he was afraid.

He was about to tell the captain that he couldn’t do it, when he felt a paw on his back. Nubby fur brushed against his side. Old Salt had followed him.

Old Salt was the oldest and wisest pirate on the ship. He didn’t talk much, but when he did, it was worth listening to what he had to say. So that was what Wally did.

Old Salt cleared his throat. “Once, long ago, I was a young puppy, too. No one thought I would make it as a pirate. But I proved ’em all wrong.” The old pirate coughed. “Ya can’t judge a puppy by his spots. I’ve been around long enough to know how to look deeper. And when I look at you, kitten, I see a pirate.”

Wally stared up at the old dog and said, “But I’m afraid. Aren’t pirates supposed to be brave? A good pirate shouldn’t be afraid of anything.”

“Bein’ brave isn’t about having no fear,” Old Salt said. “It’s about bein’ afraid of what you have to do and doing it anyway. You just have to believe you can do it, and you have to want it. Look deep in your heart, and decide what you really want.”

Wally thought about what Old Salt said. He knew what he wanted. He wanted to be on the pirate crew—really, really wanted it, more than he’d ever wanted anything. He wanted this ship to be his home. Wally took a deep breath. “I’m ready,” he said. “Yo ho harooo, let’s climb the mast!”

“In case you were wondering, mate?” Henry said as Wally padded back toward the mast. “I think you’re perfect for the crow’s nest. You’re little, and you’re fast. That’s just what you need to get up there lickety-split.”

Wally remembered that he wasn’t the only one who wanted to stay on this ship. Henry needed him to pass this test. He wasn’t going to let his best friend down!

And Henry could be right, Wally realized. Little and fast might be perfect for this task! He stopped a few feet away from the rope ladder and looked all the way up to the top. It was as scary as ever—but maybe that was okay. Maybe he could be scared…and do it anyway.

Wally put his head down and ran.

He ran straight at the rope ladder, as fast as his little paws would carry him.

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