The air smelled like popcorn and salty ocean water. William loved going to the pier with his family! The sun felt warm on his face as he watched the waves crash against the wooden beams.
"Look, Jacob! A real pirate ship!" William tugged at Jacob's leash. Jacob, William’s trusty lizard and best friend, didn’t seem as excited. He was too busy trying to catch a fly.
The pirate ship was old and a little spooky. Cobwebs hung from the masts, and the skull and crossbones flag flapped in the breeze. William could almost hear the ghosts of pirates singing their spooky sea shanties!
William, being a very friendly and sporty boy, wanted to make sure the pirate ghosts felt welcome. He knew how important empathy was. It meant trying to understand how someone else feels.
"Maybe the pirate ghosts are lonely," he whispered to Jacob. He decided to leave them a gift. William dug in his backpack and pulled out his favorite dinosaur toy, a bright green Triceratops. He carefully placed it on the deck.
"There you go," William whispered. "Now you have a friend."
As he turned to leave, he heard a loud CRUNCH! William spun around. The dinosaur was gone! Only a few crumbs remained.
Suddenly, a gruff voice boomed, "Ahoy there, matey! What be ye doin' on me ship?"
William’s eyes widened. A real pirate ghost stood before him! He was tall and shimmery, with a long white beard and an eye patch.
But William wasn’t scared. He knew even pirate ghosts could be lonely.
“I brought your friends a toy dinosaur,” William said, pointing at the crumbs. “But it seems he already had a snack.”
The pirate ghost chuckled, a deep, echoing sound. “Aye, that be me pet dinosaur, Rex. He loves a good Triceratops treat."
Rex, a tiny, sparkly dinosaur no bigger than William’s hand, flew down from the mast. He burped a tiny puff of smoke that smelled like bubblegum!
William giggled. He loved dinosaurs! “Wow, he’s amazing! What kind of dinosaur is he?”
“He be a Compsognathus,” the pirate ghost boomed proudly. “Rarest breed there be!”
They spent the rest of the afternoon playing games. William even taught Rex how to play fetch, though Rex kept chasing after seagulls instead of the ball!
As the sun started to set, casting long shadows across the pier, the pirate ghost told William it was time to go.
“Thank ye for visitin’, lad,” he said, smiling. “Ye have a kind heart.”
William smiled back. He learned that even spooky pirate ghosts could be friendly if you treated them with empathy. And he knew he'd made a new friend in a tiny, sparkly dinosaur named Rex!
He waved goodbye and walked back down the pier, Jacob waddling behind him.
“That was fun, Jacob,” William said, smiling. He couldn't wait to tell his family all about his ghostly pirate adventure and his new dinosaur friend!
