Chapter One: Twenty four

"Jackie," Teague said sauntering into Jack's room, "you're sixteen now!"

"OH YOU NOTICED!" Jack said sarcastically.

Teague glared at him. "You're growing up fast!" Teague said.

Jack gulped; this wasn't the talk was it? If so Teague was a good three years too late...

"I think you're more responsible now..."

Even worse, thought Jack, chores.

"One day you're going to have to take my place."

Please, please no lessons in the code thought Jack.

"So, I want you to come to the pub tonight to have your first hango-I mean tankard." Teague stuttered.

Relief flooded Jack, along with confusion, "My first tankard?" he asked confused. Teague shot him a warning glance "my first tankard." Jack nodded.

"I'd advise you to start light, don't try and beat my record..." Teague said proudly,

"Oh yes, the PB...twenty three, heard it so many times." Jack rolled his eyes thinking of his own personal best...thirty six.

"Yes...I doubt there's another pirate in the cove who could out-do that!"

"Yep...you keep telling yourself that!" Jack mused; Teague gave him a sharp look.

An hour later Teague and Jack were walking the curving walk ways of shipwreck cove to 'The Drunken Lady,' the most popular Tavern in the cove. They'd met up with Gibbs and Robbie and they talked in the same way Jack talked to his mates although it made them sound like sad middle aged men. Because of this embarrassment, Jack was keeping a few paces behind.

Clara, a salty wench Jack knew intimately well, held the door open for them.

"Hi Jack!" she smiled then looked at his companions, "Oh, hi Edward!" Jack and Teague both froze, neither wanting to think about the awful truth.

"What can I do for you boys tonight?" she asked suggestively, leading them to a table.

"Just drinks tonight, Clara," Teague muttered, blushing furiously and avoiding Jack's gaze. "Four of yer finest spiced rums." Clara guffawed disbelievingly. Jack gave her a look to kill.

"No...Ummm I'll have a deck silver." Jack said remembering the sickly sweetness of the rum Teague had ordered.

"Jackie, you have favourites among rums you've never tasted?" Teague asked.

"Ummm, yeah! Prefer the name!" Jack said thinking on his feet.

"O...k then three spiced one deck silver." Teague was quite impressed by Jacks choice. It was a lot stronger than the usual stuff.

"Righty!" Clara said Teague gave her bum a quick pat as she bustled off and Jack felt thoroughly sick. His face became red with embarrassment.

"Right then, Teague, I've been working me drinking muscles and I reckon I can beat ya this time!"

"It'll be a first..." Teague jeered, "I don't want ye disappointed!"

"That's it!" cried Gibbs, grabbing another tavern wench. Jack hid this face so this one- Amelia- wouldn't recognise him, "Get us ten rounds, for starters!"

"Not for Jack as well!" Teague hissed.

"Oh come on!" Gibbs laughed, patting Jack on the back, "Ye're no fool, Teague! You can't really believe that Jack's never had a drink. I wouldn't be surprised if he put us all to shame!"

"Yeah bu...I just don-,"

"What? Scared of a little friendly competition?" Jack asked mockingly, Clara and Amelia came, carrying trays and trays of tankards. They plonked them down on the table.

"Hope ye're not taking more than ye can handle, ey, Eddie?" Amelia jeered.

Teague laughed and downed two tankards in one, "Ye just watch!" but as if in response Jack threw three tankards down his throat he barely flinched as the rum seared a trail of fire down his throat, it was familiar to him by now anyway.

Teague growled and took another tankard up, throwing it down his throat. Clara and Amelia cheered and then went silent as Teague fell to the floor, clutching his stomach and groaning. Jack downed another tankard and stood, leering over Teague's body, "I win!" he cried, "The apprentice has become the master!" Then just as Jack claimed victory Teague was violently sick

"Oh now that's just shameful..." Jack hung his head, "You, father. Are. Disowned."