I did miss your little joining on bit at the start of this one. Perhaps even reminding us that you had just opened the gate, or there he was at the other end of the gate etc.

A pirate stared up at me,
I say up because he was
very short in stature...
no more than three feet tall
I would guess. Black curls
billowing 'neath a red bandana,
gold earing glistening
in the sun and, as he
twitched his eye patch
into place, he pulled himself
up to full height,
adjusted his sword
and...ignoring me completely
he said...

- your descriptions is fantastic, you paint the character so well but keep it short and interesting. I felt it quite significant that he ignored you, I wonder what his reasons for this were.

"Well me hearties
it's been a long time
thought you had both
been lost at sea.
Hopper, I'll 'ave some
oh that rum me sees."

and...

- I love the language of the pirate, very typical and easy to imagine. I also find him to be quite a cheeky pirate too, which would explain Terry Tu. I would never have thought in the beginning that the parrot would belong to a pirate. SO it makes me think what happened in order for them to be separated, was it an accident, or did they plan on running away from him? interesting :)

As Hopper happily limped
over, Terry-Tu perched himself
upon Jan de Bouff's shoulder
and they all started singing...

"Yo! Ho! Ho! to all, we are chums
We'll head out to sea when we finish our rum
We'll get us much treasure, be it diamonds or gold
We'll all be very rich by the time we grow old".

- very very realistic about the pirate's mind frame, how they think of money and are often very selfish. I still wonder here if the frog and Terry want to go with him, or if there is a twist.

I wondered...if I provide a boat and a sail would they head off into the sunset?...

- loved your ending, again the suspense is still there but I cannot help but wonder more about their previous journey as well as what will happen on their next one.

Keep them going.