My alarm clock blared, marking the start of another school day when I was 12 years old, on the cusp of ending my seventh-grade year. I dragged myself out of bed, still half-asleep, and stumbled into the bathroom to get ready. As I readied myself, my thoughts drifted to what the day held in store. Looking back, it's funny how those days when we anticipate the future often set us on unexpected paths. After getting dressed and saying goodbye to my mom, I left for school. I took a meandering route through quiet backstreets, grabbing a quick bite of bread along the way. When I arrived at school, I headed to my first class, Mr. Tailor's history class. He always struck us as an odd character. He'd go about his lessons as usual during school hours, but once the final bell rang, he seemed to disappear, leaving us with a lingering sense of intrigue. As kids, we often imagined our teachers living and breathing their jobs, but as we grew older, we realized they had lives beyond the classroom. Yet, Mr. Tailor was an exception; his life seemed inseparable from the school itself. His classroom served as his residence, and it bore the unmistakable signs of his presence. The chalkboard, perpetually smudged, displayed the date in perfect cursive every day in the top left corner. The desks were arranged neatly, accommodating twenty students in total, divided into four groups of five. At the front of the class stood Mr. Tailor's expansive, cluttered desk, with a peculiar spot cleared just for him to sit—a paradox of messiness and order. I took a seat in his class, I sat right next to the door to the classroom, farthest in the back to the right. After school one day, Mr. Tailor had called me into his office. As I entered, my eyes widened in sheer amazement. Spread across the room was an intricate world map with several papers on bulletin boards scattered around, these maps adorned with a complex network of red strings and a multitude of colorful pins, each marking a distinct location of significance. Scattered papers were strewn carelessly about, one bearing the phrase "La Concorde" and the maps displayed a web of routes stretching from Bristol and London to the distant shores of Virginia. 

In a matter of seconds, I pieced together the puzzle laid out before me. After all, I had dedicated the past three and a half years of my life to the study of this very subject. This was the path that the infamous pirate Blackbeard had taken before his abrupt capture. 

My confusion clear, I asked, "Why are you showing this to me?" 

Mr. Tailor replied, "I’ve heard from other students that you've been deeply studying this very topic, and I thought you might lend your expertise to my research." 

I hesitated, reflecting on the fact that it had been so long since I had even thought about Blackbeard. "Well, I'm not entirely sure... I have not delved into this for months. Not to mention I've exhausted nearly every resource related to Blackbeard. Unless you have stumbled upon something out of this world, I'm afraid you aren’t going to learn anything more from me," I confessed. 

"But that's exactly it!" Tailor exclaimed with fervor. "I've come across a new clue that could blow this story out of the water, quite literally." 

Intrigued by Tailor's enthusiasm, I examined the water-damaged, torn paper he had pulled out of his desk. Though worn by time, faint traces of text remained visible. "Along the coast of these islands, you'll be in a-," I began, only to be interrupted by the abrupt truncation of the sentence.  

"It just ends?" I said aloud, raising my left eyebrow. After a long pause I claimed. "Curious, but judging from Blackbeard's established route, I'd wager he was alluding to the East Indies." Tailor looked puzzled and asked, "And why do you think that?" 

"I mean if you’d studied Teach’s mannerisms and speaking style, it's rather straightforward, really. Blwas likely to say, 'Along the coast of these islands, you'll be in Asian waters,' which supports my theory about the East Indies, positioned directly south-east of Asia." I replied, motioning towards south-eastern Asia on the wall map. 

A palpable sense of relief washed over Mr. Tailor as he praised my insight. "Impressive! I knew I could rely on your exceptional knowledge. Thank you, young man." 

One Year before the Present Day

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

I went about my usual routine, driving to the local post office, a quaint little building nestled in the heart of our serene town. It appeared to be an ordinary day, until my eyes fell upon an envelope that stood out like a blazing scarlet beacon amidst the sea of mail. The envelope bore a commanding message in large red letters: "URGENT OPEN ASAP."

Curiosity mixed with a tinge of foreboding compelled me to tear open the envelope. What I found inside was a message that would alter the course of my life. The words on the page read: "Andrew, it's Tailor. You told me to send a letter here if I ever found something. I know it's been 6 years since we talked, but this is huge. Come meet me at my classroom as soon as possible."

A wave of astonishment washed over me as I absorbed the implications of this unexpected message. "I'll be damned... Tailor did it, he cracked the code," I muttered in sheer disbelief.

I left the post office behind and embarked on a journey back to my old school. My steps quickened with each passing moment, anticipation building as I approached my former teacher's classroom. The door, once familiar, now held the promise of a revelation.

Tailor welcomed me inside, his face etched with urgency. "Come here, I need to show you what I've found," he beckoned. The room exuded an air of mystery and palpable anticipation.

Eager for answers, I inquired, "Well? What is it?"

With a measured breath, Tailor began to unveil the discovery—a revelation centered around the pirate Blackbeard's enigmatic sojourn in Northern Asia for five days. I, well-versed in the pirate's history, recognized the anomaly. "Well, that's not like him," I commented, my intrigue deepening.

Tailor's conviction remained unwavering as he continued, "Exactly, he would've come for supplies and left in the morning. He had something to hide."

With our shared determination reignited, I couldn't contain my excitement. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" I exclaimed, ready to embark on a new chapter of our quest.

As I prepared to depart, Tailor remained seated, an air of resignation about him. "What are you doing, Tailor? We have to go to Asia," I implored.

Tailor's response was delivered with calm wisdom, "Listen, Andrew, I'm way too old for this. I know you'll probably need someone to come with you, but it can't be me. I can't handle stress like that."

My mind raced, searching for an alternative, someone who could share this adventure with me. "Well, who is there? You're the only one who'd understand," I mused.

Tailor's response was cryptic yet suggestive, "Not the only one."

I raised an eyebrow, catching on to Tailor's insinuation. "You couldn't be suggesting..."

A knowing look from Tailor confirmed my suspicions. The notion hung in the air, compelling me to consider the unconventional. "No, no, no. James cannot come with me, it's too dangerous for him. Hell, he's a kid," I protested.

Tailor presented a counterargument. "Was it too dangerous for you? He's older than you were when you started this."

With a sigh, I conceded, realizing that Tailor's wisdom held a kernel of truth. I embarked on the journey back home, determined to share the news with my son, James.

Entering James's room, I initiated a conversation that would change our lives. "Hey kid, can we talk?" I asked calmly.

A curious James responded, "Uh, sure Dad. What's up?"

"Remember how I always told you I was investigating that old pirate, Blackbeard?" I began, laying the groundwork.

James's memory stirred. "Sounds familiar... but why bring it up now?" he inquired, puzzled.

With a confident demeanor, I revealed the reason behind my revelation. "Well, there's a lead in the case. It takes me to Asia, and I want you to come."

James, his surprise evident, asked, "You want me to come with you, to investigate hidden pirate treasure?"

I nodded affirmatively, pride in my son's eyes. "You know, sure as hell, I'm in," James declared.

"Alright, pack your things, we're gonna be there for a while," I instructed, as our shared adventure loomed on the horizon.

The two of us prepared for our journey, boarding a flight to Asia that would blend our pursuit of treasure with tourist attractions and historic cities. As we took our seats in first class, I couldn't help but jest, "Perks of having a nerd Dad, I suppose."

James, accustomed to this playful jab, replied with a hint of annoyance, "Yeah Dad, you say that all the time."

I teased him further, lightening the mood as the long flight stretched ahead. Our journey to Asia was just beginning, and the anticipation of what lay ahead fueled our spirits as we ventured into the unknown.