The smell of waffles and pancakes filled the air. A melodic whistling emitted from a person who possessed a low voice. Eyes of a boy’s were opening up slowly to reveal an odd figure staring down at him.

“Well, hello there Pip.” The person said, the beard tickling the boy’s nose. “Name’s Cap’n Buck.”

“Cap’n?” The boy asked sitting up on the damp smelling couch.

“Yeah. Cap’n. Short for Captain.” The man, named Cap’n Buck, explained.

The boy looked around. There were patterned plates hanging on the wall, newspaper stacks abandoned on the floor and packs of Quest Mackerels laying inside the overflowing bin. Walls were painted in a dark brown colour with patches of hazel.

“Whatya think?”

“Huh?” The boy looked back to the man.

“Of my house?” He added.

He listened for any sounds that were available in the area and found nothing but the twitter of birds. Even though the sound was pleasant, the smell wasn’t. The mixture of dead fish and fresh food didn’t go well together.

“Um…Interesting?” The boy answered uneasily.

“Ha ha ha. I knew you’d say that.” Cap’n Buck bellowed with laughter.

“Where am I? What am I doing here?” The boy breathed quickly, knowing that he shouldn’t be here.

“Ah well, no need to worry, Pip. You’re in your old uncle’s cavern. I usually call it a cave since it’s mostly secluded and secret…” Cap’n Buck chuckles.

“Uncle? Cavern? Secluded?” The boy tried to take the information as lightly as he could.

“You did know you had an uncle right? Hmm…Well it was some time since you saw your mother…” He drifted off.

“My mother! I need to find her!” The boy leapt to his skinny feet.

“No need to hurry. She’s safe.” Cap’n Buck reassured.

The boy sat down, a bit relieved.

“Well you wouldn’ want to starve in this place do ya? Here, have some pancakes. It’s a family recipe.”

Cap’n Buck placed a freshly cooked stack of pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries.

The boy’s mouth started to dribble with hunger. He reached forward and took a chunk of pancake from the plate, neared to his mouth and chewed it to splinters.

“Good isn’t it?” Cap’n Buck beamed.

The boy didn’t need to answer since his hand did the job. Taking fistfuls of the delicious desert and wolfing it down with great pleasure. Trying to remember the last time he had a decent meal.

The last time…

The…last…time…