#WDYS — The Buccaneer

Fandango

It was a tradition in Roland’s family to read books and he embrace that tradition with gusto. He always thought of books as a conduit that connected his very pragmatic brain to the luminosity of his vivid imagination.

Roland was driven to read as if reading was his mistress who he found irresistible. But poor Roland soon found that he was having trouble distinguishing between reality and the world he experienced from within the pages of his books.

Suddenly he was a buccaneer standing on the seashore of a deserted, tropical island. He was guarding a chest full of treasure from a pirate ship anchored just off shore.

Roland heard an eerie, far off voice seemingly carried by the breezes. “Close the book, Roland, while you still can. Close it before it’s too late.”

Roland saw pirates leaving the ships in row boats, heading in his direction. “No, I cannot close the book. I am the protector of the chest,” he said to the strange, far off voice. “It is my duty, as the King’s buccaneer, to defend his royal treasure, even if it portends my end.

“Close the book,” the voice insisted. “It’s not real. It’s your imagination. But if you don’t close the book, you will never escape.”

Roland sighed. “I’d rather remain locked within my imagination than return to a depressing reality.”

And with that, the book slammed shut. So, too, closed the book on the reality of the young man once known as Roland.

Written for Sadje’s What Do You See? prompt. Photo credit: Tumisu @ Pixabay. Also for these daily prompts: The Daily Spur (tradition), Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (gusto), Your Daily Word Prompt (conduit/portend), Word of the Day Challenge (driven), Ragtag Daily Prompt (luminosity/mistress), and My Vivid Blog (seashore).

16 thoughts on “#WDYS — The Buccaneer”

  1. Sadje August 18, 2021 / 11:22 am

    Wow! What an adventure. An unusual fate for the young man. I hope he is still enjoying his adventures in the pages of the book. Thanks for joining in Fandango

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Nope, Not Pam August 18, 2021 / 1:10 pm

    This is fantastic, loved it 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. bushboy August 18, 2021 / 4:03 pm

    Very enjoyable Fandango. I knew a young man who thought he was a pirate captain. I asked him if he was the pirate captain where’s your buccaneers? He replied under my buccan hat!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Marleen August 19, 2021 / 4:39 pm

    I usually enjoy stories involving water and adventure.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Carol anne August 19, 2021 / 5:27 pm

    great take on sadje’s prompt fandango! ❤ well done my friend! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. judeitakali August 19, 2021 / 11:13 pm

    I really enjoyed this. It is why I encourage people to keep dreaming.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Pingback: What do you see # 95 – A Roundup – Keep it alive

Leave a comment