Dear Mother,
    In my last few letters there have been many weird things happening. Don't go hysterical, because there is a pirate ship around the area where we are. Actually, they managed to warn us that we were about to get into big trouble with some shoals when Uncle was settling a feud with the X twins (as we call them, though they aren't related) and Hilot—I think over who won the poker game they were playing. They haven't really bothered us so much. Then again, the pirate flag (the Jolly Roger) is flying high.
   Oh! I might not have told you, but Fuegia has a pet now! Flower the hummingbird became attached to her when she saved her from a snake that was pretending to be a flower that tried to eat her.
   Poena, Flower, Lucky, Sammy —There are a lot of pets on this ship. I have to feed Poena right now or she will eat my arm off.

Mary