Storm at Sea for Luca
A ferocious storm hits the pirate ship. Only teamwork can bring the crew safely home.
The pirate ship Brave Heron was sailing home to Sunny Harbour with barrels of apples in the hold. The sun was shining. The sea was calm. Luca was at the wheel, whistling a tune. ‘Smooth sailing,’ said Rory.
But Elsa the parrot flew down from the mast, squawking, ‘Storm! Storm! Storm!’ Far away, a huge dark cloud was rolling in. The waves began to grow. The wind began to howl.
‘All hands on deck!’ shouted Luca. Ella the elephant, the strongest sailor, tied down the barrels. Rory climbed the mast to lower the sails. Elsa flew ahead to look for the lighthouse.
The storm hit with a roar. Great waves crashed over the deck. Rain lashed down. Luca gripped the wheel and held on. His knees shook, but he thought, ‘If I stay calm, everybody else will too.’
‘Steady!’ called Luca. ‘Everyone, hold fast!’ Up on the mast, Rory yelled that the sail was safe. Below deck, Ella shouted that the barrels were tied. Everyone did their part, and the ship rode the waves.
Hours passed. The wind slowly died down. The clouds broke apart. Then Elsa gave a loud squawk. ‘Light! Light!’ Far ahead, the sweep of a lighthouse beam cut through the dark.
They followed the light all the way into Sunny Harbour. When the Brave Heron bumped against the dock, everyone cheered. Luca slid down onto the planks, weak with relief, but smiling.
‘Great sailing, Captain,’ said Ella, patting Luca on the back. ‘I couldn’t have done it without you all,’ said Luca. And that night, the whole crew ate hot soup on the deck under a sky full of stars.
The little lesson
In rough seas, calm voices and working together keep everyone safe.
Let’s talk about it
- What do you do when you feel scared?
- Which crew member’s job was most important?
Finish stories to collect Luca as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
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