A Pirate in the Park

Ok, technically he wasn’t REALLY a pirate…he was a commodore.
Or so he said.
We were playing on the playground in Audubon Park when I spied out of the corner of my eye, a man striding across the park wearing a long pirate coat, pirate pants, tall boots, a sword in his scabbard, and a huge three-cornered hat complete with dancing feathers on his head.  His long black hair was tied back in a ponytail. “Annabelle! Look! A pirate!” I said. She stopped playing to look. “Actually,” I said, “It looks like Napolean.”
She gasped in delight. “Look! It’s Panolean!” she whispered to her friend ecstatically, and we all crept closer. “Let’s go ask him his name,” I said, and we all walked over, me, Annabelle, her friend Sophie, Henry, Aya (Henry’s baby doll) and Coconut (Annabelle’s stuffed dog.) 
He told us his name was Commodore Something or Other and that he was looking for Jack Sparrow and had any of us seen Captain Jack Sparrow or Elizabeth Swann? We all shook our heads.”Look at his sword,” I said, pointing to the plastic sword he had taped together at the handle hanging from his belt. All their eyes grew wide as he withdrew it and let them hold it. They all collected sticks and he taught them how to block blows from other swords. Annabelle was fascinated, and after five minutes, was ready to teach the class herself to anyone who would listen. As more and more children lined up to learn about swordfighting, Annabelle couldn’t resist putting in her two cents. “Not like that, George! Like this!” She’d say, showing him how he should be holding his pretend sword.
Henry was busy reverently holding the plastic sword. I have to say he did a fantastic job. He held very still and quiet. He didn’t swing it or dig in the dirt with it or try to hit anyone else with it. He just stood and held it with one pudgy hand, his other hand held behind his back like the Commodore was teaching. Every time I told him he needed to let someone else take a turn, he would hold up one tiny finger and say “One more minute,” and continue his sword reverie. After about five times, I finally had to pry his fingers loose and give it to another child.
Henry was devastated, but quickly recovered when we laid out a blanket under the slide to have snacks and tell ghost stories. Annabelle of course led the way, telling everyone a story about a little boy and girl named Daisy and Sunshine who were very brave. The fact that we had snacks at a playground right before supper made us VERY popular at the playground, and we soon had an audience of about six kids listening to Annabelle’s stories. As we left the playground, Annabelle curtsied to the Commodore and he saluted her with his sword. He told me he was from the Phillipines and that he taught the kids at orphanages about pirates and swordfighting. Just reaffirmed my love for this quirky city.  A pirate in the park!! How often does that happen?